The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced the approval of major upgrades to Nigeria’s airport navigational and communication systems.

He said there is a series of other measures aimed at enhancing air safety, modernising infrastructure, and improving passenger experience nationwide.

Briefing State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chambers, Keyamo told journalists that the Council endorsed the extension of CCECC’s maintenance contract for the new terminal at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

These include the installation of an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System in Lagos and Abuja to detect runway obstructions; new modular air traffic control towers for eight airports; an aeronautical frequency monitoring and interference detection system; and the upgrade of VHF radio communication systems in nine airports.

“Another one is an infrastructure upgrade that has to do with navigation again, approval for the award of contract for the installation of an aeronautical frequency spectrum monitor and interference detection solution that, of course, improves the communication between the ground crew, the people at the tower, and, the aircraft that are approaching or taking off, and they normally guide them. 

 “That is the system that guides them to approach the runway communication. So this has to do with not just the detection system, but the communication system between the tower and the pilots. We are getting new equipment and upgrading the equipment. 

 “In that respect, the other one is the procurement, replacement and upgrade of the remote control, air, ground communication, total VHF radio system in nine sites, nine airports. This is also a radio system we are upgrading in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, Kano Abuja, that’s another part of Abuja, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Wukari airports.” 

The Minister added that the President also approved the upgrade and rollout of biometric-enabled e-gates at all international airports to fast-track passenger clearance and improve the travel experience.

“And so we have approval for the provision of biometric-enabled electronic gates, which are called the popular e-gates, to fast-track passenger solution, Fast Track solution at the nation’s international airports, all our international airports.”

He noted that the upgrades reflect President Tinubu’s directive to modernise aviation infrastructure and ensure safer, more efficient air travel across Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that the Federal Government has no legal powers to regulate or fix airfares in the country, emphasising that the country’s aviation industry has operated under a fully deregulated framework for several decades.

Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, Keyamo explained that the deregulation of the aviation industry dates back to the Ibrahim Babangida administration, when private airlines were granted the freedom to operate and determine their own fare regimes.

He noted that although the Senate had invited him to discuss the recent surge in airfares, he was unable to appear due to his commitments at the Council meeting.

The Minister disclosed that he instructed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and domestic airlines to appear before the Senate Committee in his absence.

Keyamo stressed that while the government cannot dictate prices in a free market, it remains actively engaged with airlines to address the underlying factors driving high fares.

“Government has absolutely no powers to fix prices for private enterprises. That is what deregulation means. But that does not mean we are leaving the airlines without engagement,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that operators have repeatedly raised concerns about access to aircraft, unfavourable lease terms, the absence of local maintenance facilities, and the pressure to source large amounts of foreign exchange to conduct mandatory C-checks abroad, factors that all feed into ticket pricing.

He disclosed that a significant milestone was achieved under the Tinubu administration when, for the first time in nearly twenty years, a major international aircraft lessor returned to the Nigerian market and granted a dry-lease arrangement to a domestic airline at a cost less than one-third of earlier industry rates.

Keyamo attributed the development to reforms introduced by the Federal Government, including new practice directions on the Cape Town Convention, which protect the rights of international lessors and boost confidence in Nigeria’s aviation environment.

“With cheaper dry leases coming in, more airlines will have access to aircraft. More aircraft automatically means stronger competition. And competition is what brings prices down in any free economy,” he said.

The Minister projected that over the next few months to a year, Nigerians should begin to feel the impact of increased aircraft availability, improved competition, and lower operating costs.

On the issue of multiple taxes and charges on airlines, an issue that has drawn the attention of ECOWAS, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development confirmed that Nigeria had received a regional advisory urging relief for operators.

He clarified that ECOWAS lacks the authority to compel member states on taxation matters, adding that aviation taxes fall under the jurisdiction of federal revenue and financial authorities, not his ministry.

“I cannot wake up one morning and abolish taxes. These revenues go into the Federation Account. The Finance Minister, the tax authorities, and other stakeholders must all be at the table,” the Minister said.

Keyamo disclosed that he had already escalated airlines’ tax concerns to the relevant bodies, adding that both the Minister of Finance and other economic authorities were working collaboratively to review the issues.

He maintained that while the government must support operators, it must also sustain the revenue necessary to maintain critical aviation infrastructure nationwide.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to receive and impart information.

Delivering the keynote address on Wednesday at a high-level national conference commemorating the 2025 International Human Rights Day in Abuja, he stressed that freedom of expression is the “lifeblood of democracy,” warning that “in a democracy, silence is not golden; it is dangerous.”

Represented by Garba Godwin, the head of the freedom of information unit in the ministry, he noted that “this year’s theme, Our Everyday Essentials, reminds us that these two rights are not abstract ideals but practical necessities that empower citizens, strengthen institutions, and uphold the very fabric of democratic governance.”

Fagbemi added that while the government is committed to safeguarding free expression, “this freedom must be exercised with responsibility” in view of the rise of misinformation and hate speech.

On access to information, he described it as “the oxygen of transparency,” reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to fully implementing the Freedom of Information Act.

“We are working to strengthen institutional frameworks… and foster a culture of openness and accountability,” he said.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, in a goodwill message, linked the event to the end of the 16 Days of Activism and the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

He noted that freedom of expression and access to information “underpin democracy, accountability, and social progress,” stating that they are “not a privilege granted by the state – but an inherent right essential for every person to live freely and safely.”

Mignot said acts of threats against journalists are “a clear assault on freedom of expression and on democracy.”

He urged the government to strengthen the legal system for prosecuting crimes against journalists.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr Danladi Plang, Head of Programmes, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), said the organisation adapted the 2025 theme to “Our Everyday Essentials: Freedom Of Expression And Of Information”, emphasising how free expression and access to information enable other rights.

Citing UNESCO data, he noted that countries with higher levels of free expression enjoy “a significantly higher level of protection of civil, political, economic and social rights.”

“While the digital age should make easy access to information, it comes with its many challenges, including the misuse of digital platforms and the restrictive laws enacted by governments to curb such abuses,” he added.

Speaking on “A Decade of Access to Information,” Dr Emmanuel Uche, Project Manager, Anti-Corruption, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), said the FOI Act is “the oxygen of democracy,” adding that despite progress, “too many institutions still resist openness” and “too many FOI requests go unanswered.” 

He urged stronger enforcement, digitalisation of public records, and broader public awareness.

“The right to information is the right that protects all other rights,” Uche concluded. “Let us defend it… Let the work begin.”

The National Conference, organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance with support from the European Union, provided a platform for national dialogue on free expression, information, and access to law, identifying challenges, fostering collaboration, and producing actionable strategies for future reform.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constituted a high-level Ministerial Committee to resolve the long-standing issue of unpaid payments for projects executed for more than 2,000 federal contractors.

The Committee comprises the Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Director-General of the Budget Office; Minister of Works, Minister of Education, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House Correspondents, following what he described as “a very productive discussion” with Ministers after receiving an updated briefing on the scale and implications of the outstanding payments.

To tackle the challenge, Mr Onanuga said “the President has approved a coordinated mechanism to verify claims, reconcile records, and propose sustainable financing options.”

According to him, the ministers and senior officials are expected to “sit together, harmonise data, and develop a comprehensive solution that will determine how and when the outstanding payments will be settled.”

He said; “the situation has created bottlenecks and undermined service delivery in critical sectors where contractors had executed government-approved projects.”

“The committee has the President’s full backing to resolve this matter decisively,” Onanuga assured.

He stressed that President Tinubu remained committed to restoring transparency and order to the contractor-payment process, ensuring that genuine contractors are paid promptly while blocking abuses and irregularities.

Contractors had protested delays of project funds, saying it has led to loan defaults, loss of property, deteriorating health conditions, and, in some cases, deaths among affected members.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had outlined a structured pathway for sorting the debts, following directives from President Tinubu to commence payments.

PIAK