NCAA to spend over N8bn for local, foreign trips

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has said it will spend N8.3bn on transportation and travels in 2024.
The agency disclosed this in the Government-Owned Enterprises budget proposal submitted to President Bola Tinubu recently.
The NCAA is the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria. It became autonomous with the passing into law of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 by the National Assembly and the assent of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Civil aviation is a critical element in Nigeria’s transportation system and indeed its economy.
According to data on the NCAA website, Nigeria has 20 airports and many regulated airstrips and heliports; 23 active domestic airlines; 554 licensed pilots; 913 licensed engineers and 1700 cabin personnel.
In the 2024 national budget, the Federal Government proposed N1.7tn for statutory transfers, N8.7tn for recurrent expenditure, while N9.9tn was allocated for capital expenditure.
According to the GOE, the NCAA projected N372.22bn revenue and plans N272.87bn expenditure.
The regulator proposed to spend N8,342,547,767 from the proposed expenditure on “travels and transport”.
Further, the GOE showed that N3,310,009,756 was earmarked for “local transport and travels for training” while international transport will cost N4,317,070,233.
The document also stated that NCAA budgeted N715,467,778 for “local travels and others” and plans to pay N1,935,000,000 as a contribution to international organisations.
Other expenditures contained in the proposed budget include the purchase of vehicles (N3,000,000,000), purchase of furniture and office fittings (N1,352,997,000), construction of office building (N3,970,000,000), and provision of electricity (N1,205,000,000).
The agency also said it will spend N1bn on airport maintenance of physical assets and facilities.