FEC approves N10bn for Hadejia airstrip, Enugu control tower

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved over N10 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Hadejia airstrip in Jigawa state for a period of 18 months and the construction of control tower and technical building in Enugu.

FEC gave the approval on Wednesday at a meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, said the council approved N7.4 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Hadejia airstrip in Jigawa state for a period of 18 months.

In 2021, the federal government said it would intensify efforts to revive airstrips across the country in a bid to combat insecurity and boost commercial activities.

Sirika said the contract was awarded to MESSRS China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

He said FEC also approved N1.9 billion for the construction of control tower and technical building in Enugu.

The minister said another N625 million contract was approved for the procurement of utility vehicles.

“So today in council, we presented one memoranda that contain three items,” Sirika said.

“One of which is the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Hadejia airstrip. And the total sum is N7,482,071,196.56 for a period of 18 months. And this contract is going to MESSRS China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

“Then, there is the construction of a control tower and technical building in Enugu airport. The company is MSSRS MASCOT Associates Nigeria Limited. And it is N1,973,606,141.75.

“The third contract is for the procurement of utility vehicles. It went to MSSRs Kaura Motors at N625,500,000. These are the memoranda and they’ve all been approved by council today.”

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.