The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a series of comprehensive upgrades to navigational and communication systems across Nigeria’s airports, a move aimed at strengthening air safety and modernising aviation infrastructure.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the approvals while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
He said the council endorsed the installation of an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System at both the Lagos and Abuja airports.
The technology is designed to detect runway obstructions, enhance visibility for ground operations and significantly reduce the risks of runway incursions.
Keyamo also revealed that FEC had approved the construction of modular air traffic control towers for eight airports, along with an aeronautical frequency monitoring and interference detection system intended to strengthen communication between pilots and control towers.
According to him, this system will help safeguard communication integrity, particularly during critical phases of flight such as landing and takeoff.
In addition, the government authorised the procurement, replacement and upgrade of remote-controlled VHF radio communication systems in nine airports, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Wukari. Keyamo said the improvements would bolster the reliability of air–ground communication across the country’s major flight corridors.
The minister further disclosed that President Tinubu approved the rollout of biometric-enabled e-gates at all international airports to accelerate passenger processing and improve the overall travel experience for Nigerians and visitors.
