The Vice President, Revenue Management of Porter Airline, Canada, Chris Amenechi, has projected $30 billion for Nigerian aviation in 2045 to revatalise the sector.
He explained that Aviation 2045 is focused on six pillars underpinned with a $30 billion fund to deliver a world class industry and fuel the nation’s economic growth.
The Vice President said this while a presenting a paper titled, “Nigeria 2045: Transforming Nigeria to Be an Aviation Global Leader” at the Nigeria Travel Mart (NTM)1st Anniversary Colloquium with the theme, “Leapfrogging Nigerian Aviation To Match Her Potential” held in Lagos.
He stated that the ultimate objective is to deliver 200 plus million passengers a year air transport complex, provide World class airports that are intermodal hubs, makes Nigeria a global player in both military and civil aviation, create robust general and recreational aviation industry and make Nigeria as a preferred aviation investment destination.
Other objectives of the of the projected fund is to make Nigeria a top 10 source of world class aviation talent, makes Nigeria one of the top 10 global aviation gateway, makes Nigeria a top 10 globally safe aviation market and turned Nigeria a champion of smart “open skies” regimes
On leadership, Amenechi posited that Nigerian aviation requires the appropriate leadership like what was experienced in the mobile communications industry after the advent of democracy in the country. He added that the prerequisites for effective leadership in the aviation industry include; astute technocrats, ambitious investors and pragmatic regulators.
These leaders,he said should deliver a long term strategic framework to develop Nigerian aviation industry, instill innovation, institutional foundations, standards, and relevant technology, build the continent’s best training and development institutions and grow the professional talent base, establish regulations that are deliver safety, encourage economic growth, and industry diversification and establish regulations that are patriotic to Nigerian customers, employees, and investors.
The leaders are also expected to embrace world leading bilateral and multilateral regimes that open Nigeria to “real investors”, ensure Nigerian entities can play globally in a favourable position, enforce the enabling laws that instill discipline in delivering the safest aviation industry globally and ensure the nation is carried along every step of the way.
On enabled funding, the security guru said a $30 billion should be establish infrastructure and industry diversification fund to accelerate development and achieve 30year plan, adding that this plan should be funded by federal government contributions and infrastructure use tax on each passenger, airline, suppliers, private owners, airport transactions.
The funds, he stated would be available as loan guarantees for airport operators, airlines, maintenance services, manufacturers, technology services among other, adding that funds would also be used to invest in the best and safest airway systems, new aircrafts, new maintenance facilities, cargo processing facilities and manufacturing plants.
