BUSINESS DAY
Nigeria’s state governments are putting billions of taxpayers’ money into white elephant airport projects with little passenger traffic across the country.
The viability of these multi-billion-naira projects remains questionable, considering the low level of passenger and aircraft traffic originating and terminating from them.
A breakdown of state airport expenditures shows that Bayelsa State spent N60 billion on its airport, while Akwa Ibom spent N20 billion. Delta and Jigawa spent N17 billion each, while Bauchi pumped N15 billion into an airport project.
Kebbi, on its part, spent N15 billion on an airport. Other states which are on the same journey are: Ogun (N20 billion), Ekiti, (N20 billion), Abia (N40, billion) Kebbi State (N15 billion), Nasarawa State (N40 billion), Osun (N40 billion) and Zamfara (N62.8 billion) billion.
Anambra State cargo airport in South-East Nigeria cost N10 billion, while Bayelsa International Airport gulped N60 billion.
More so, Wachakal Airport, Damaturu, Yobe State, costs N18 billion but is still uncompleted. Dutse International Airport, Jigawa, cost N20 billion.
Despite billions pumped into these airports, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu generate 89. 7 percent passenger traffic in the country. The remaining 10 percent are shared by the remaining 27 state airports.
In 2022, the passenger traffic stood at 16.2 from 14.2 million passengers in 2021, indicating a 13 percent increase over the period.
There are 32 airports in Nigeria, including five recognised international aerodromes, which are: Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA); Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), and Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu.
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