The House of Representatives’ Committee on Aviation, yesterday, directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to channel at least 70 per cent of its aviation investments at improving airports’ critical infrastructure nationwide.
The committee on a tour of the aviation agencies in Lagos said improved attention at aeronautical and non-aeronautical facilities were most critical to security and safety.
This is coming as FAAN gave an account of its 2020 earnings, disclosing that it earned, at least, N30 billion between January and September, with only N2 billion remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account.
Chairman of the Committee, Nnolim Nnaji, said paying strategic attention to airport infrastructure and driving investment were most critical at this period of a global pandemic and economic downturn.
The lawmakers hinted that provisions of the new aviation industry bill, currently before the house, would be friendly to staff of the agencies, airline operators, and the industry at large when passed into law.
They also pledged to support the industry with the necessary legislation. Among these is the push for the retention of 25 per cent of FAAN’s generated revenue, “to enable the Authority put in place a 10-year development plan and use the funds to build critical infrastructure for the aviation industry”.
Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, told the lawmakers that as at September 30, 2020, FAAN generated a total of N30, 084, 235, 670, during the nine months target, out of which N27, 967, 455, 341 was the actual collection.
He called on the lawmakers to give accelerated attention to the agency’s budget, and expedite action on legislation that would help the agency fast track its operations across the airports.
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