The Federal Government has proposed N87.31 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, with a substantial portion of the funding dedicated to capital projects aimed at renewing and expanding aviation infrastructure nationwide. The budget details were released on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
According to the budget breakdown, N70.19 billion, representing more than 80 per cent of the total allocation, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N14.78 billion is set aside for personnel costs and N2.34 billion for overheads.
The draft document does not include provisions for retained independent revenue or external grants.
The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received the largest allocation of N50.65 billion, of which N48.55 billion is for capital projects. Personnel and overhead costs for the ministry were budgeted at N1.35 billion and N745.74 million, respectively.
Among the aviation agencies, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency was allocated N6.3 billion entirely for capital expenditure, with no funds earmarked for personnel or overheads in the budget proposal.
The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, received N11.28 billion, combining N6.54 billion for capital projects with personnel and overhead costs of N4.28 billion and N464.44 million, respectively. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau was budgeted N7.24 billion, with N6.51 billion designated for infrastructure spending.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency is set to receive N11.84 billion, although the majority of this will cover personnel costs at N9.15 billion, with capital projects receiving N2.29 billion and overheads N393.73 million.
The strong capital focus in the aviation budget aligns with the position of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has repeatedly emphasised that infrastructure renewal is critical to enhancing safety, efficiency and overall service delivery in the aviation sector.
The emphasis on infrastructure in the 2026 aviation budget arrives amid broader fiscal constraints, with the total allocation representing a reduction from previous years but maintaining a strategic tilt toward long‑term projects that underpin operational improvements, passenger safety and sector growth.
As Nigeria’s aviation industry continues to confront both capacity and safety challenges, the prioritisation of capital expenditure in the budget reflects government efforts to stimulate sector development, modernise facilities and support economic expansion linked to aviation services and connectivity.
