Aviation Minister Senator Hadi Sirika has pledged to complete ongoing projects in the industry before the current administration completes its term by 2023.
Sirika assured this during the 25th annual conference and awards ceremony organized by the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was: “Nigeria’s Aviation Industry: Management, Policy and Regulation”.
The minister noted that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari had a vision of a sector that would provide the greatest comfort, safety and security to the majority of passengers before the end of his term.
Sirika, represented by the Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr. Akin Olateru also pledged to urgently improve the operational environment of airlines operating in the country.
The minister said the ministry was in consultation with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies to provide assistance to airlines.
Sirika pointed out that the ministry had been able to achieve zero import duties on aircraft engines, spare parts and the special exchange counter for the aviation sector.
He said: “We have improved the availability of aviation fuel in the industry and this has restructured the aviation agencies.
“Others are improving aviation safety and security, upgrading NCAT to a regional center of excellence.
“And we have succeeded in introducing policies on remotely piloted aircraft, employment policies on the application of the expatriate quota.”
Sirika noted that Nigeria currently has Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with 89 countries.
He added that 15 countries had already indicated that they were ready to sign BASAs with the country while 13 other countries were on the threshold of renegotiation.
The minister said that in 2016, after carrying out a diagnostic of the aviation industry, he called a conference of all stakeholders where they came out with a very clear roadmap.
Sirika said the roadmap is aimed at developing the aviation sector with the ultimate goal of making aviation highly relevant to the Nigerian economy.
He said: “However, as you know, COVID-19 has put the global economy to the test, with air travel arguably the hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Statistics from the International Airline Transport Association (IATA) on the economic impact of COVID-19 on Nigeria revealed a loss of revenue of $ 994 million in 2020.
“In terms of jobs at risk in Nigeria, it is 125,370 and the loss of contribution to GDP is $ 885 million.”
Sirika said the federal government was able to cushion the effects of the pandemic by providing a N5 billion cash intervention to national airlines.
The minister said they could not have achieved all of this without the cooperation, constructive criticism and great understanding from everyone in the industry.
The president of the event, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, congratulated the organizers on the choice of the theme, adding that there could not be a better time to discuss hot issues like this in an industry that struggles with too much. of oppressive forces.
Mshelia, the chairman of Westlink Airlines, said these forces were both man-made and natural.
“The natural is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated not only the aviation industry, even Nigeria alone. It is a scourge that has rocked all sectors with devastating effects on a global scale from the beginning of 2020.
“As we all know, aviation standards, management, policies and regulations on the global stage are monitored and overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“Each signatory country sends a representative to the ICAO council. So I believe that the motive for this theme will be to review, dissect, ”he said.
Mshelia said the theme will also refine some of our existing policies and practices, which conflict with global standards and also affect our collective growth. (NAN)
