FAAN plans N580bn runway rehabilitation across 21 airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is concluding plans for a nationwide airside rehabilitation programme estimated at over N580 billion to upgrade runways and other safety-critical infrastructure at more than 21 airports across the country.

The programme, which will cover international airports and 16 domestic airports under FAAN’s management, is expected to benefit airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Jos, Kaduna, Benin, Sokoto, Ilorin and several others.

FAAN said the intervention is part of the Federal Government’s drive to modernise airport infrastructure, improve aviation safety and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.

The authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure renewal as a catalyst for economic growth and investor confidence.

According to him, many of the country’s critical airside facilities have deteriorated after years of increasing aircraft movements, changing climatic conditions and inadequate capital investment.

He said some runways had exceeded their design life, while taxiways and airfield lighting systems now require extensive rehabilitation and modernisation.

Agbebire said FAAN, under the leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has adopted a long-term approach to airport infrastructure renewal.

“Far from being a collection of isolated construction projects, the ongoing rehabilitation reflects a deliberate shift in philosophy, one that places safety before aesthetics, resilience before convenience and long-term infrastructure sustainability ahead of temporary repairs,” he said.