Nigerian government says establishment of national carrier remains top priority

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said that the Federal Government remains committed to the establishment of a national carrier for the country, alongside provision for maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for aircraft and the implementation of other components of the aviation roadmap.

The minister stated this at a meeting with members of the Joint Aviation Unions Forum, an umbrella body of all unions in the aviation sector, a statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, in Abuja on Friday reveals.

According to the minister, the establishment of a national carrier would further position Nigeria to compete with other nations in line with the Single African Air Transport Market project and develop as a regional hub for air transportation.

He also disclosed that the establishment of MROs would save the country a lot of foreign exchange that would otherwise be spent by airline operators sending their aircraft abroad for checks.

Promising to work with the unions in implementing the road map, Sirika noted that the roadmap would go a long way to advance the sector and position it to meet emerging challenges.

He said: “I promise that there will be good understanding between us to drive the activities of our industry towards contributing more to national development. I will do everything reasonably possible to make the newly re-established ministry live up to the expectations of all stakeholders in the sector.

“This task, I think, is for you as well; not for me alone. It is for all of us. We will continue to hold stakeholders’ meetings with the unions, staff, the management and players within the industry.

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“We will be committed to better welfare while expecting your full cooperation towards the implementation of the aviation roadmap which was developed during our first tenure.”

The minister further revealed that the ministry would continue to lay emphasis on the safety and security of air travellers, adding that the recent acquisition of a calibration aircraft for the country and the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for rehabilitation were some of the steps being taken to guarantee the safety of the nation’s airspace.

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