The Federal Government has allocated N3.7 billion in the 2025 budget to establish annexes of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) across five additional geopolitical zones. These new campuses will be located in Akure (South-West), Osubi (South-South), Ebonyi (South-East), Ilorin (North-Central), and Yola (North-East), complementing the existing annex in Lagos and the main campus in Zaria, Kaduna State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly approved the decentralization of NCAT, a move aimed at enhancing efficiency and national coverage for aviation training. Established in 1964, NCAT is Nigeria’s foremost aviation training institution and is designated as a Regional Training Centre by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The 2025 budget includes detailed provisions for NCAT’s projects, including:
- N2.13 billion for air navigation equipment.
- N1.6 billion for direct teaching and laboratory costs.
- N695 million for aircraft maintenance.
- N400 million for aircraft spare parts and retrofitting.
- N270 million for training aircraft insurance premiums.
- N633 million for insurance of college assets.
The expansion plan, which has been under consideration for years, is now classified as a new project in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s 2025 appropriation bill.
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the development, citing Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring national coverage and smooth operations for NCAT.
This significant decentralization will make advanced aviation training more accessible nationwide and further solidify Nigeria’s position in the global aviation sector.
