Governors Criticized for Wasting N160bn on Unviable Airports

State governors face backlash for spending N160 billion on unviable airport projects, with critics arguing that the funds could have been better allocated to more impactful development initiatives.

The airport projects carried out by state governments in Ekiti, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Yobe, Nasarawa and Bayelsa amounting to N160bn have been deemed unfeasible by opposition politicians and aviation experts.

The stakeholders have expressed their belief that the massive amount of public funds devoted to constructing facilities has resulted in a squandering of resources. They criticized the state governors and urged Nigerians to hold them accountable for this misuse of resources.

On the other hand, a few participants in the industry proposed converting the facilities into centers for acquiring skills to benefit society.

There were calls for the relevant authorities to investigate the expenditure on projects deemed unfeasible.

Despite spending over N160bn on airport projects, the six states have failed to garner significant interest from charter or commercial aircraft.

With the exception of Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport, Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and Port Harcourt International in Rivers State – which collectively generate approximately 80% of revenues for Nigeria’s Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) – other airports incur a considerable financial burden on FAAN.

Although many aerodromes in the country are facing challenges, several state governments persist in allocating scarce resources towards building new airports and designating them as “cargo airports.”

Over the past ten years, at least 10 state governments have proposed or begun similar initiatives.

Osun, Ebonyi, Ogun, Benue, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Abia and Ekiti are some of the states in question. Regrettably, the majority of these undertakings were left unfinished—with certain others being forsaken by their subsequent officeholders.

The airports mentioned are Asaba Airport, Ebonyi Airport, Bayelsa Airport, Ogun Cargo Airport, MKO Abiola International Airport; there is an unfinished airport in Osun and two cargo airports which are Ekiti Cargo Airport and Anambra Cargo Aiport. The list also includes Abia Airpot as well as the Wachakal Damaturu airport and Dutse Internationl AIrport located in Jigawa.

Lafia Airport in Nasarawa, Kebbi Airport, Zamfara Airport, Auchi Airport in Edo (which is unfinished), and Gombe airport are among the airports.

Governor Willie Obiano initiated plans to construct an airport in Anambra State back in 2017. After six years, he has reignited his passion for the project and intends to establish a cargo airport situated at Umueri within the Anambra East Local Government Area.

Despite being surrounded by airports in Delta, Imo and Enugu states, the governor of Anambra State still initiated the airport project.

In April 2017, despite opposition from those who deemed the government’s plan unnecessary and unoriginal, the airport project was initiated by the governor.

During the flagging-off ceremony in April 2017, Obiano stated that his administration aimed to establish an airport city with a design including twin runways, aviation fuel storage facility, hotel for air travelers and business partners alike. Furthermore, he sought to develop other amenities such as industrial business park facilities housing state-of-the-art international convention centers alongside top-notch aircraft maintenance service stations.

When it was first conceived, he boasted that the airport would cost $2 billion and be among the most advanced in the world, with an ability to accommodate even the most sophisticated aircrafts.

The state government stated that N6b was expended in 2021, contrary to the allegation of $2b in certain circles.

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In 2019, correspondence from the immediate past aviation minister Hadi Sirika conveyed approval to construct Ebonyi airport. The recipient of this letter was then Governor David Umahi who now serves as Minister of Works. Director of Safety and Technical Policy Capt Talba Alkali signed on behalf of the ministry.

During the airport commissioning, Umahi disclosed that he allocated more than N36bn towards constructing the Onueke-based airport in Ezza South Local Government Area. However, presently, it can be said that the state of affairs at the airport is inactive.

Despite the N16 billion of public funds spent by former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on the Akure airport, it remains non-viable as no aircraft seem to be attracted to use its facilities.

The governor proposed the idea of a cargo airport, but it faced criticism from stakeholders within and beyond the state. In spite of this opposition, however, the governor still chose to veto its construction – leaving us with an unused project.

Niyi Adebayo, the Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management has disclosed that as of January 2023 a total sum of N16.6bn had been expended on an incomplete facility located in Ekiti State.

He clarified that the funds were allocated for various purposes, including perimeter fencing, finishing the runway and taxiway construction, constructing a terminal building as well as compensating farmers whose farmlands had been acquired during project planning.

An airport was constructed in Jigawa State with a budget of N4bn by former governor Sule Lamido. It was commissioned during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, back in 2014.

Experts consider the airport facility to be a waste of resources, as it is situated within 100km proximity of Aminu Kano International Airport.

Former Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state invested N70 billion into the construction of an airport which was started in 2012 and finished by February 2019.

Some stakeholders, including former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Adams Oshiomole, have disputed the governor’s expenditure on the airport.

According to Oshiomhole, the project cost more than N100 billion; however, Dickson maintained that it was completed for approximately N70 billion.

Similarly, in Yobe State, the transport commissioner Abdullahi Kukuwa recently disclosed to journalists that over N18bn was expended on a dormant airport project launched in 2017.

Similar to its equivalent, the Nasarawa cargo airport venture was launched in December 2015 under the leadership of former Governor Umaru Al-Makura during his second term. He proclaimed that he possessed a vision for unlocking investment prospects and opening up avenues in the state.