The Minister of State Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has urged the National Assembly to approve $461.8-million for additional work on the new terminals being built across the country.
Sirika made the request when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation on Monday in Abuja for his ministry’s budget.
He said the required amount, which was needed in addition to the $500-million loan already received from China Exim Bank would help to tackle some challenges encountered in the process of building the terminals.
He said that issues encountered in the process of building the news terminals were changes in the structural design of the airports, foundation footing and escalators.
The minister also said there was a need to make provisions for the biggest modern aircraft, change in departure and arrival floors to flow with railway station, provision of adequate power supply and relocation of control tower and fire service station, among others.
Sirika stressed that the China Exim Bank had indicated a willingness to consider funding additional works.
He added the ministry had written to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to provide for the sum of $73.9-million as counterpart fund in 2019 outside the ministry’s proposed national budget.
According to Sirika, two of the new terminals, in Port Harcourt and Abuja have been commissioned, while Lagos and Kano will be completed shortly.
He said adequate provision had been made to complete the new terminal buildings in at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
He solicited the support of the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure all needed equipment necessary for safety and security were provided to meet the Standard and Recommended Practices as outlined by regulatory aviation bodies.