The Federal Government has allocated N580m for the procurement of chillers and software upgrades at airports. This forms part of the total budget of N87.3bn earmarked for the aviation industry in the 2026 proposed budget.
The specific software was not specified, but the budget document showed that the chillers were meant for the Lagos airport at a cost of N500m, while N80m was earmarked for the update of the financial management system and software.
Aside from the chillers and software, the government also plans to provide or upgrade Wi-Fi services for passengers at five international airports and some domestic airports at a cost of N800m. In addition, water-cooling chillers are to be installed at the Lagos and Abuja airports for N500m.
According to the document, the government will also construct a sewage treatment plant at Owerri Airport for N21m and organise a bi-annual Joint Aviation Trade Unions stakeholders’ forum at a cost of N150m.
Detailing some of the rehabilitation works planned for the year, the document stated that cracks would be sealed on runways, aprons, and taxiways at major airports in Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos at a cost of N800m. It added that airfield lighting systems would be procured and installed at Ilorin Airport for N800m.
According to the budget document, N14,779,174,252 was set aside for personnel costs, N2,338,000,548 for overhead costs, while N70,192,789,683 was earmarked for capital projects in the ministry.
The document further showed that N33,906,953,400 was allocated for the rehabilitation and upgrade of airport infrastructure, including terminal buildings, runways, aprons, and fencing, during the year.
Chief in the ministry’s budget items were infrastructure and capital projects. The document contained no provisions for retained independent revenue or aid and grant funding.
The budget proposal shows that N70.19bn, representing more than 80 per cent of the total allocation, is earmarked for capital projects, while N14.78bn is set aside for personnel costs and N2.34bn for overheads.
