In a significant development for Nigeria's transport sector, the Federal Government has earmarked a total of N87.3 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and four of its agencies in the 2026 Appropriation Bill. The budget proposal, which was submitted to the National Assembly in December 2025, reflects a strategic shift in funding priorities for the aviation industry.
Budget Allocation and Year-on-Year Comparison
The allocated sum of N87.3 billion represents a notable decrease from the N105.95 billion appropriated to the sector in the 2025 fiscal year. However, it marks an increase from the N63.32 billion set aside for aviation in 2024. This fluctuation indicates a recalibration of government spending within the sector, potentially aligning with broader economic consolidation efforts outlined by President Bola Tinubu.
A detailed breakdown of the 2026 aviation budget reveals the following key allocations:
- Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development: N50,646,938,934
- Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET): N11,836,942,378
- Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria: N11,281,209,862
Notable Exclusions and Major Capital Projects
In a striking move, the 2026 budget does not include direct allocations for two major agencies: the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This omission is based on their status as revenue-generating and largely self-sustaining organisations, though government-funded projects for these agencies are still anticipated. Conversely, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has been captured in the national budget for the first time in five years.
The budget outlines several critical infrastructure projects, with three major initiatives under the ministry's supervision set to consume approximately N10 billion. These projects, which also appeared in the 2025 budget with identical funding, are:
- Expansion of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) – N1 billion.
- Refund to Kebbi State Government for the construction of Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi – N4 billion.
- Construction of a corporate headquarters and staff accommodation for the Ministry and its agencies – N5 billion.
Another landmark project is the establishment of the Aerospace University Abuja, which has been allocated N3 billion. Furthermore, the government has set aside N5 billion for nationwide acquisition of safety and security critical projects, including Category III Airfield Lighting (AFL) and disabled aircraft recovery equipment.
Communications Sector Allocation and Broader Budget Context
In a related development, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (Comtech) and two of its agencies received a combined allocation of N84.56 billion. A significant portion of this, N46.06 billion, is earmarked for the ministry itself, while the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) gets N28.6 billion and the Nigeria Communication Satellite receives N9.9 billion.
President Tinubu has described the 2026 budget, titled "Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity," as a tool to solidify recent economic reforms and improve living standards. Other major beneficiaries in the budget include the Ministries of Works (N3.4 trillion), Defence (N3.2 trillion), and Education (N2.3 trillion).
The reappearance of the same aviation projects from the previous year's budget raises questions about the disbursement of the 2025 funds. It remains unclear whether the allocated monies were fully released to the ministry for these projects to now require fresh funding in the 2026 proposal.
