The South West Governors have allocated a budget of 266 billion Naira for the development and improvement of airport projects within their respective regions.

Governors in the southwestern region, both current and former, have allocated over N266 billion for the development of new airports, despite the questionable viability of many existing facilities.

As these leaders continue to advance these initiatives, industry analysts express concerns that several of these projects may ultimately fail to yield profitability. Numerous former governors have left behind abandoned projects, which now pose challenges for their successors.

Research indicates that the six governors from the southwest have identified airport projects in their respective states, resulting in significant financial investments at various project sites.

Each of the six southwestern states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti—either has an operational airport or has invested billions of naira in the pursuit of establishing one.

There are eight airport sites across these states, with the Federal Government overseeing the two airports located in Ondo and Oyo, while the remaining four state governments are tasked with the construction of the other five incomplete airports.

Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, which is owned and operated by the Federal Government, has been recognized as the most viable airport in the nation.

Investigations have revealed that more than N266 billion of taxpayers' funds has been allocated for five out of the eight airports.

In July, Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, disclosed that only three of the 22 airports in the nation are financially sustainable and are actively contributing to the aviation sector's development.

Additionally, findings indicate that merely four of the over 30 airports in the country are economically viable, generating N5.57 trillion in foreign trade over a span of 51 months.

Industry experts have noted that governors often pursue airport projects contrary to professional advice, driven by political ambitions and the misappropriation of public funds.

For example, Ogun State is home to two non-operational airports. In 2007, former Governor Gbenga Daniel initiated the Gateway Agro Cargo Airport project in Ilishan-Remo, but he was unable to launch it before leaving office in 2011.

His successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, proposed a different vision in 2018, suggesting the construction of a passenger airport in the Wasimi area.

Although Amosun's administration began groundwork for this airport, it remained incomplete by the end of his term in 2019.

The current governor, Dapo Abiodun, reverted to Daniel's original agro-cargo airport plan in 2021, focusing on his hometown of Ilishan-Remo.

Tensions between Abiodun and Amosun, who have reportedly not communicated since the 2019 gubernatorial election, resurfaced during a visit from the Senate Committee on Aviation, led by Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West), to inspect the passenger airport projects.

During this visit in March 2021, Abiodun informed the committee of his intention to proceed with the agro-cargo airport project proposed by Daniel, emphasizing its significant potential. Subsequently, it was reported that the state government had adjusted the airport's focus to serve both passenger and cargo needs.

Nevertheless, documents acquired from the state’s procurement website prior to its subsequent deletion revealed that over ₦97.2 billion was allocated for the yet-to-be-completed airport.

Individuals knowledgeable about the project informed our reporter that the funds had been utilized for the project.

According to the document obtained by our correspondent, separate budget allocations of ₦49,678,075,522 and ₦29,599,563,852 were made for the airport.

Regrettably, the state government has repeatedly failed to fulfill its commitment to complete the airport and commence flight operations at the facility on three separate occasions.

Numerous experts have advised this publication that the aerodrome cannot be inaugurated in its current state.

 

 

A previous commander of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu, informed our correspondent that he had previously given advice to the state during the administration of Gbenga Daniel: “if at all the state wants to site an airport, it should be along Wasinmi or Ota axis where the Amosun-backed airport was sited.”

In Osun State, documents reviewed by this publication indicate that the land designated for the airport was acquired in 1936 for aviation operations.

Under the leadership of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a contract was awarded to Aeronautics Engineering in October 2012 for the airport's construction at a cost of N4.5 billion, which was later revised to N11 billion to incorporate additional features.

The state government reported that N3.6 billion had been spent on the project before it was abandoned, necessitating a re-award. Despite attempts to ascertain the reasons behind Aeronautics Engineering's withdrawal from the project, no explanation was provided.

In 2015, the government announced plans to invest N11 billion into the airport project, but by 2017, this figure had escalated to N69 billion due to expansions and modern facilities added by the contractor, which received state approval.

In October 2017, the state government expressed its intention to resume the project; however, facing significant financial challenges, the Aregbesola administration chose to pursue a concession model.

By the time Aregbesola left office, the budget for the airport project had reached N69 billion, with approximately N12 billion of funds from Osun residents already invested in the construction site.

Similarly, in Ekiti State, former Governor Kayode Fayemi allocated over N16.6 billion in public funds for the Akure airport, which has struggled to attract aircraft due to its lack of viability.

The governor's proposal for a cargo airport faced criticism from various stakeholders, yet he proceeded with the plan, which remains unused.

As of January 2023, Niyi Adebayo, the Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Budget, Economic Planning, and Performance Management, confirmed that N16.6 billion had been spent on the incomplete facility.

In Lagos, the idea of a new airport was first proposed during the administration of Babatunde Fashola.

In 2011, a report from local newspapers cited Adeniyi Oyemade, the then Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, indicating that N102 billion had been allocated for the project. However, it remains unverified whether these funds were ultimately utilized or withdrawn by the time of this report.

The Fashola administration, along with his immediate successor, made limited progress on the initiative. Nearly two years ago, the Lagos State Government declared its intention to begin constructing a new airport in the Lekki region. This proposed airport is intended to complement the existing Murtala Muhammed Airport.

A designated area of 3,500 hectares has been earmarked for the project, which is expected to accommodate 350 aircraft and serve approximately five million passengers annually.

Industry experts concur that an additional airport is necessary to adequately serve the millions of air travelers originating from the state, although opinions vary regarding its potential impact on the revenue generation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. The budget for the aerodrome's construction was set at N102 billion.

It is anticipated that the new airport will alleviate traffic congestion in the Lagos Metropolis and cater to the corporate travel demands in the area, particularly given the increasing number of businesses, such as Dangote Refinery and Kellogg’s, situated in and around the Lekki Free Zone.

In contrast, both Ondo and Oyo states have federal airports that were inaugurated in 1986 and 1982, respectively. Although these airports are deemed unviable, they still accommodate commercial flights, albeit infrequently.

Recently, Oyo State Governor Rotimi Makinde proposed upgrading the Ibadan airport to international standards, a suggestion that has faced criticism from experts and aviation observers.

Experts react

Industry specialist John Ojikutu raised concerns regarding the justification for constructing an airport without adequate research into passenger and cargo traffic. He particularly inquired about the Ogun state government's decision to establish a cargo airport in a location such as Illishan.

Ojikutu said, “I have been called several times on this matter and I will say the same thing I have always said. It is not a must to build an airport! As a governor, you have a mandate to the people as a governor, why not face the basics? I don’t think they (the governors) have as campaign promises to build unviable airports all over the place, why not then face what you promised?

“Today, Ekiti has built one, but it can’t move; Lagos has been trying to build one for more than 10 years now. It has not gotten any headway; Osun has been trying to do that.  Ilorin Airport has been there for almost 40 years. We have told them before you build an airport, you do credible groundwork to be sure of who or what your airport wants to service.”

He added, “Imagine that Ogun state airport, during the days of Gbenga Daniel as governor, I told them that that airport is better built along that Ewekoro or Ota axis where captains of industries can make use of the airport but politics won’t allow them to listen to us.”

An Industry expert raised concerns regarding the approval of an airport without a business plan by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Additionally, the expert criticized Nigerian politicians for prioritizing personal gain over professionalism.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Lagos State, Olawale Musa, clarified that the project is still in its early stages. He reassured stakeholders and industry experts that the government is actively collaborating with them to ensure a successful implementation.

“We are still on the planning level. You know, building an airport involves a lot of design and planning. We already have the land but we are working on a comprehensive master plan with all stakeholders and regulatory authorities.”

When asked about the government’s plans to ensure the airport’s viability, the permanent secretary responded that the airport will have a modern design and standard that will be competitive with any city in the world.

In Osun, attempts to reach the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bola Bamigbola, were unsuccessful. Despite multiple text messages and phone calls, the Commissioner remained unresponsive, while the CPS was unreachable.

In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, and Commissioner for Transport, Gbenga Dairo, disregarded our correspondent’s repeated attempts to contact them via phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages regarding the matter.