The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved N 13bn for the automation of safety equipment at Lagos , Kano , Abuja and Port Harcourt international airports .

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the virtual meeting of the Council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd) , also approved $3. 1bn for the automation of the operations of Nigeria Customs Service.

The Ministers of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika , and Finance , Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed, made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting in Abuja.

Sirika expressed optimism that the safe tower projects , when completed, would increase efficiency and reduce the workload of air controllers in the affected airports .

He said , “ Today , civil aviation submitted a memorandum to the council which was consequently approved.

“ The memo is to upgrade and refurbish the safe tower equipment in four airports ; Lagos , Kano , Abuja , and Port Harcourt .

“ This is just to increase the efficiency of the airports and reduce the workload in the control tower and to automate what was hitherto analog systems to digital.

“ Quick example is all of the data we collect at the end of the runways within the airports will now be displayed instantly on our platform in the control tower .

“ Information regarding weather , regarding all of the components of weather , winds , rain , macroburst, etc will be displayed automatically.

“ So, the issue of giving out weather reports every hour will change to give you instant weather which will improve the pilot efficiency and the workload on the controller is reduced and it can handle more flights into the airport .
PUNCH