In five of the nation’s geographical zones, the federal government intends to open Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) annexes.
In pursuit of this objective, the government has allocated N3,680,000,000 to the project’s realisation.
Founded in 1964 and recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as a Regional Training Center (RTC), NCAT is Nigeria’s premier aviation training facility.
Since its founding, the college has solely maintained an annex in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre and aviation hub.
According to Daily Trust sources, there has been a strategy for years to decentralise NCAT’s operations.
However, the federal government intends to spend N3.6 billion to create NCAT annexes in five geopolitical zones, including Akure (South-West), Osubi (South-South), Ebonyi (South-East), Ilorin (North Central), and Yola (North East), according to the 2025 budget that President Bola Tinubu unveiled on Thursday, 19th December 2024.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s budget, which was included in the appropriation paper, categorised it as a new project.
In a similar vein, N1.6 billion would be spent by the federal government on transaction advisers and consulting services for certain ministry projects.
These include N800m for consultancy/transaction advisers for the concession of five airport terminals as well as another N800m for consultancy/transaction advisers for PPP projects; maintenance, repair and overhaul, aerotropolis, agro-allied/cargo terminals, FAAN headquarters and others.
TimesNow.com.ng reported that work has started on the construction of the Abia State International Cargo Airport in Ubahu Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North local government area.
Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, officially launched the project on Wednesday, December 18.
At the event, Keyamo revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved the upgrade as part of a presidential initiative to ensure no part of the country, particularly the southeast, is excluded from aviation development.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
