The federal government on Thursday, March 25, 2021, said it has invested over N100 billion in the aviation sector in the last five years.

The funds, according to the federal government was used for airport equipment, staff training, and emolument.

This was disclosed in Abuja by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika during the 8th edition of the aviation workers week with the theme; ‘The challenges of COVID-19 pandemic to the Nigerian Aviation industry: The path to recovery.’

Sirika who was represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi also said the aviation sector was key to global security.

On the amount invested in the aviation sector, the minister said: “The government deployed resources to equipping state governments through various interventions. From 2015 till date, the federal government has deployed over N100 billion to develop the aviation sector.

“When this government came on board in 2015, there were a number of airport projects that were abandoned, basically because of lack of funds and because of arguments over contractual obligations, so the government evaluated some of these challenges and committed funds towards that.

“The funds were used for airports upgrade, procurement of equipment, training of staff, settling of relevant emolument, navigation equipment, weather equipment, and so many others. So it was whole industry intervention.”