President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced on Saturday evening that the development of Nilandhoo Airport will be completed within a maximum of 30 months. He made the statement while addressing residents of F. Nilandhoo as part of his ongoing tour of inhabited islands across four atolls.
The President reiterated that the airport development was one of his key pledges to the people of Nilandhoo during his presidential campaign. He provided an update on the project, noting that the scope of the associated land reclamation works has been revised to support the construction of an 1,800-metre runway.
President Dr Muizzu further emphasised that Nilandhoo is among the islands identified by the Government for development as Urban Centres. He outlined additional projects designed to support this broader vision. Among these, he announced that the long-delayed sewerage network project would resume immediately, with completion expected within 24 months. He also confirmed that the water supply network would be completed within the year, with concurrent initiation of road development works.
Reflecting on the fisheries sector, the President noted that a contract has been formalised for the development of a canning factory on the island. He also announced that the State Trading Organization (STO) will complete the installation of fuel skid tanks on designated islands, including Nilandhoo, by March next year.
The President assured residents that a project to build 200 housing units and another to construct a 50-bed hospital are already underway. He added that projects to develop a sports complex and an Islamic Centre are scheduled for implementation next year.
President Dr Muizzu confirmed that, from next year, the budget allocation for Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) will increase from five per cent to ten per cent of island council budgets. This measure, he explained, is intended to strengthen the role of WDCs and further promote decentralised governance.
He reiterated that development projects will be undertaken through direct engagement with communities, ensuring that initiatives are responsive to their needs and aligned with their aspirations. In this regard, the President added that, if all goes according to plan, he expects to complete a second round of consultations with island councils nationwide by November.
Several agreements were signed during the gathering, including those for road development, the establishment of a canning facility, harbour development, a fuel storage facility, and waste management services, as well as the airport development project itself. In addition, passport issuance services were officially launched on the island during the ceremony.
