The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) began installing a solar power system at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Thursday, 11 August 2022, in a pilot project intended to reduce the airport's reliance on diesel generators for terminal operations and runway lighting.
FAAN said the installation, expected to be completed within three months, would supply a significant share of the airport's daytime power needs once operational, with diesel generators retained as backup during peak demand periods and at night.
Part of a Wider Energy Strategy
The agency said Enugu had been selected as the pilot site because of its relatively lower traffic volumes compared to Lagos and Abuja, allowing FAAN to test the system's reliability before considering a wider rollout across other regional airports.
Aviation minister Hadi Sirika said the project fit into a broader government push to cut fuel costs across public infrastructure amid rising diesel prices, and that similar renewable energy pilots were being considered for airports in Kano and Port Harcourt.
