Newly commissioned domestic terminal, Hajj facility upgrades signal renewed investment in Northern Nigeria’s busiest airport….
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the release of ₦46 billion for the resurfacing and reconstruction of the second runway at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), marking another major investment in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the commissioning of the newly remodeled Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo Domestic Terminal at the Kano airport.
According to the minister, the runway project forms part of the Federal Government’s broader plan to modernize airport infrastructure across the country under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Keyamo said Kano remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic aviation hubs, describing the city as the commercial gateway to Northern Nigeria and a key driver of economic activities in the region.
He noted that the planned reconstruction of the airport’s second runway will improve safety, increase operational efficiency, and strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle both domestic and international air traffic.
“The President has approved the sum of ₦46 billion for the resurfacing and reconstruction of the second runway so that Kano Airport can compete with other international airports around the world,” the minister said.
He also revealed that rehabilitation work has commenced on the airport’s Hajj Terminal, adding that contractors are already on site carrying out the upgrade.
The commissioning of the remodeled domestic terminal, Keyamo said, represents another milestone in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve passenger experience, enhance airport operations, and deliver world-class aviation infrastructure across Nigeria.
The terminal is named after the late Mallam Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo, a respected aviation pioneer whose contributions helped shape the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, said the upgraded facility reflects the agency’s commitment to delivering modern, efficient, and passenger-friendly airport services.
Also present at the ceremony was the Chairman of FAAN’s Governing Board, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who commended the Tinubu administration for prioritizing aviation projects in Kano. He said the ongoing upgrades would further strengthen the state’s position as Northern Nigeria’s leading commercial and aviation hub.
The event attracted senior government officials, aviation stakeholders, and industry leaders, including representatives of the Kano State Government and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
With work set to continue on both the second runway and the Hajj Terminal, the Federal Government says the latest projects are expected to improve airport operations, support regional economic growth, and reinforce Kano’s role as one of Nigeria’s most important aviation gateways.
