Infrastructure upgrades dominate allocations to aviation agencies as government prioritises safety and efficiency
The Federal Government has proposed a total budget of ₦87.31 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, with capital expenditure taking a dominant share of the allocation.
Budget details show that ₦70.19 billion, representing more than 80 per cent of the total proposed spending, is earmarked for capital projects. Personnel costs account for ₦14.78 billion, while ₦2.34 billion is allocated for overhead expenses. The proposal does not include provisions for retained revenue, grants, or external aid.
The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received the largest single allocation of ₦50.65 billion, out of which ₦48.55 billion is designated for capital expenditure. Personnel costs are estimated at ₦1.35 billion, while overheads stand at ₦745.74 million.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is allocated ₦11.84 billion, reflecting its labour-intensive operations. Personnel costs account for ₦9.15 billion, overhead expenses ₦393.73 million, and capital projects ₦2.29 billion.
Similarly, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, is set to receive ₦11.28 billion, comprising ₦4.28 billion for personnel, ₦464.44 million for overheads, and ₦6.54 billion for capital development.
The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is allocated ₦6.3 billion, with the entire sum directed to capital expenditure. No provisions were made for personnel or overhead costs in the agency’s budget breakdown.
In addition, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is expected to receive ₦7.24 billion, made up of ₦6.51 billion for capital projects and ₦734.09 million for overheads, again with no allocation for personnel expenses.
The strong emphasis on capital spending aligns with the position of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has repeatedly stressed that infrastructure renewal is critical to improving safety standards, operational efficiency, and service delivery across Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Earlier, on January 22, 2025, the ministry presented its 2025 budget proposal to the Joint National Assembly Committee on Aviation and Aviation Technology at the National Assembly Complex. During the session, Keyamo reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency and prudent management of public funds.
He also outlined the ministry’s 2024 budget performance, revealing that capital expenditure recorded a 30.9 per cent utilisation rate, personnel costs were fully utilised at 100 per cent, while overhead spending achieved 99.97 per cent utilisation.
According to the minister, the proposed ₦71.12 billion budget for the ministry in 2025 was structured to reflect its strategic priorities, with ₦69.22 billion allocated to capital projects, ₦1.16 billion for personnel costs, and ₦745.74 million for overheads.
Keyamo said the capital-heavy budget framework is designed to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, strengthen safety oversight, and support long-term growth in Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace sectors.
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