KEY POINTS
- The FG opposed a request to increase project costs by N532 billion for airport runway work.
- Aviation Ministry wants the National Assembly to fund 71 billion Naira of important capital projects for calendar year 2025.
- To demonstrate good governance, government officials make sure all information is public and answer to the oversight bodies.
The Federal Government said no to an extra N532 billion cost when contractors asked for changes to build a new runway in Abuja.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, told lawmakers during 2025 budget proceedings that the government wouldn’t approve the N532 billion runway project expansion.
Before construction began, officials funded N30 billion of the project’s total N90 billion contract value to handle first-phase work. Progress has come to a standstill because the contractor wants such a large additional payment that the government won’t approve. Keyamo said the request is unfair, while also telling everyone he won’t agree to it with the president.
Budget oversight in focus
The Minister told lawmakers the Ministry’s 2025 budget request was N71 billion, with N69 billion going towards main construction work.
Across the planet, laws demand that all work already on track gets done by the original deadline, plus public funding has to stay open for everyone to examine.
Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, gave the government credit but said they need to spend their resources wisely.
He asked the ministry and its agencies to answer right away when the National Assembly invites them, so the Assembly can do its job properly.
