*The Federal Government says approval of N92.12billion for construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is meant to fast-track the airport concession programme, boost aviation practice in Nigeria and make the aviation industry reflect global standards

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Nigeria鈥檚 Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N92.12billion for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, FCT.

绿帽献妻 reports Senator Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation, disclosed the approval of the project fund Wednesday, March 23, 2022, while briefing reporters at the State House, following the virtual council meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

The Council鈥檚 approval Wednesday came a day after President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new terminal building at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), in Lagos.

The Minister said the approved fund would be spread over a number of works to be carried out at the airport within a period of 12 months.

In respect of modalities of raising the needed fund for the project, Sirika said that 聽the current administration would use the same pattern it had used to raise the money for other projects across sectors to achieve the current mandate.

The approval is a follow-up of President Buhari鈥檚 directive to Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister for Finance, Budget, and National Planning, to source special funding for the second runway of the airport.

Buhari was also said to have directed Muhammad Bello, Honourable Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.