The Federal Government, has approved the sum of N1.7bn for the design of second runway at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja . The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who briefed State House Correspondents on Wednesday, said the sum of N1, 659, 592, 908.78 was approved for the proposed second Abuja Airport runway . The amount, according to the Minister, covers consultancy services for design, with a completion period of 12 months. He explained further: “Today in council, a memo from Aviation was considered and it is the consultancy services for design; pre contract services for the construction of a new runway here in Abuja. “The contract went to a consortium of consultants, at a total contract sum of N1, 659, 592, 908.78, this included 7.5 percent of Value Added Tax VAT also with an exchange rate of N360 to dollar and this was approved”.