President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦46 billion for the resurfacing and reconstruction of the second runway at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), as part of the Federal Government’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the approval on Tuesday during the commissioning of the newly remodelled Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo Domestic Terminal at the Kano airport.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the runway project forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of the country’s major airports and improve aviation services nationwide.
Speaking at the event, Keyamo said the investment would significantly enhance the efficiency of Kano airport and position it to compete with leading international airports across the world.
He noted that the Tinubu administration had identified Kano as a strategic aviation hub because of its commercial importance to Northern Nigeria.
“The Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earmarked Kano Airport for major upgrades because of its importance. The President has approved ₦46 billion for the resurfacing and reconstruction of the second runway to enable the airport compete with other international airports globally,” Keyamo said.
The minister also disclosed that work had commenced on the upgrade of the airport’s Hajj Terminal, with contractors already mobilised to the site.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the aviation sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the commissioning of the upgraded domestic terminal as another milestone in the administration’s airport modernisation programme.
Keyamo explained that the remodelling project was designed to improve passenger comfort, operational efficiency, safety and service delivery across Nigeria’s airports.
The newly upgraded terminal was named after Mallam Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo, a distinguished aviation pioneer from Kano, in recognition of his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, said the upgraded facility reflects FAAN’s commitment to delivering modern, world-class airport infrastructure that will enhance passenger experience.
Chairman of the FAAN Governing Board, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, commended President Tinubu and Keyamo for prioritising aviation development in Kano, noting that the ongoing projects would reinforce the state’s position as Northern Nigeria’s leading commercial and aviation hub.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Kano State Commissioner for Transport, Haruna Isa Dederi, who represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf; Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure; Director of Air Transport Management at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ahmed Tijani; FAAN directors, and other aviation stakeholders.
