The federal government has reinstated capital allocation for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) four years after, Daily Trust can report.

This is one of the highlights of the 2025 budget presented to the National Assembly last week by President Bola Tinubu where the sum of N105,953,496,365 was allocated to the Ministry of Aviation.

Previously three agencies of the ministry including the apex regulatory agency, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and NAMA were exempted from the annual budgetary allocation.

In addition, the federal government deducts 50 per cent of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which is against the standard and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which recommends that the funds generated by the agencies should be reinvested into improving infrastructure and boosting aviation safety.

Stakeholders including the unions have continued to oppose the 50% deduction, saying it poses threat to safety in the industry.

In what appears a relief to the airspace authority, the federal government included it in the 2025 capital allocation with a sum of N7bn proposed for the agency in the budget.

According to the appropriation bill, the sum of N5bn was budgeted for expansion of Jotron extended range high power stand-alone VHF Radio Over 10.02 Satellite Network at 14 EN-Route Station.

Also, N2bn was allocated for safe tower upgrade for the four major airports ? Lagos, Abuja, Kano, PHC and Lagos VCCS.

The two projects revolve around boosting communication between the pilots and the controllers and strengthening flight safety.

Former Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu in a chat with our correspondent welcomed the reinstatement of capital projects to NAMA, saying the agency ?Has a lot to do in improving the equipment and to make the airspace safer and more efficient.?

Elsewhere, the government proposed to spend N1.5bn for internet services for passengers at five international airports.

The project, ?Provision/Upgrade of WiFi Services for Passengers in Five International Airports and some Domestic Airports? was listed as a new project in the 2025 appropriation.

Also the government plans to spend about N10bn on the construction, repair and rehabilitation of various airstrips across the country.

Airstrip is like a mini airport designed for takeoff and landing of aircraft. An airstrip caters primarily for smaller aircraft and it usually has a single, shorter runway compared to an airport, which has the full complement of facilities for commercial operation.

According to the highlights of the 2025 budget, N4bn was allocated for the rehabilitation/development of Osubi Airstrip in Delta State while construction of Umuahia Airstrip, Abia State would gulp N1.5bn.

Others include Hadejia Airstrip in Jigawa 800m; Uli Okija airstrip, Anambra 100m; Funtua Airstrip N200m; Development of Gboko Airstrip Benue 500m; development of Abeokuta Airstrip 50m; development of Osun airstrip N1.5bn; Ajaokuta 500m; rehabilitation of Okitipupa airstrip Ondo 30m, among others. (Daily Trust)

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