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.