Keyamo Presents ₦184.39bn 2026 Aviation Budget to National Assembly

Keyamo Presents ₦184.39bn 2026 Aviation Budget to National Assembly

The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FICArb (UK), on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, presented the sum of ₦184,392,160,433.00 as the Ministry’s proposed 2026 budget to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation at the National Assembly.

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While presenting the proposal, the Minister expressed appreciation to the Committees for their consistent support and cooperation since the beginning of the current administration. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with the National Assembly to drive growth and transformation in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Keyamo explained that the 2026 budget proposal is strategically structured to modernise aviation safety systems, upgrade digital infrastructure, and strengthen human capacity development across the sector. According to him, the Ministry remains focused on improving operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and service delivery in line with global best practices.

Highlighting achievements recorded during the 2025 fiscal year despite funding challenges, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government successfully cleared outstanding debts owed to foreign airlines. He also listed key milestones, including Nigeria’s compliance with the Cape Town Convention, the reopening of direct flight operations to the United Arab Emirates, the commencement of direct Abuja–Heathrow flights by a local airline to boost competition and reduce fares, and the establishment of a national aircraft leasing company to support domestic operators.

The Minister further briefed lawmakers on the recent fire outbreak at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which destroyed critical equipment belonging to some aviation agencies. He appealed to the National Assembly to support affected agencies in replacing the damaged equipment, noting that the incident resulted in significant operational losses within the sector.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Buhari Abdulfatai, stressed the need for prudent management of public funds, noting that it is the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to appropriate funds and ensure transparency and accountability. He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects and avoid abandonment.

Similarly, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Festus Olanrewaju, advised that budget implementation should remain people-oriented, support infrastructural development, and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth.

Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, Directors of the Ministry, and Heads of aviation agencies.

Keyamo Presents ₦184.39bn 2026 Aviation Budget to National Assembly