Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, faced questioning from the House Committee on Aviation regarding the deteriorating state of infrastructure at both local and international airports in the country.
During an interaction in Abuja, Chairman of the House Committee, Abdullah Garba, pressed Keyamo and other Ministry of Aviation officials on the pressing need for government intervention in addressing the concerning condition of airport facilities.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the safety standards for personnel and stakeholders at airports across the nation, the lawmaker emphasized the committee’s role in identifying the necessary equipment and resources for rejuvenating the aviation sector.
In response, Keyamo highlighted the severity of infrastructural decay at airports as a pivotal concern for the Ministry, emphasizing ongoing safety assessments and an international audit by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) to address these challenges.
Assuring the lawmakers, Keyamo confirmed the Ministry’s efforts to compile a comprehensive list of requirements and equipment for enhancing safety standards at all airports in line with international benchmarks.
Touching on contract awards, Keyamo informed the committee that the majority of the awarded contracts are still in progress, underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to ongoing projects.
Subsequently, the House committee chairman and stakeholders convened an executive session to deliberate on addressing the lawmakers’ concerns.