* President Muhammadu Buhari
The Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika Minister has said categorically that the achievements made in the aviation sector under President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration are unprecedented.
Sirika, who stated this in an interview, explained that the aviation industry in Nigeria under the present administration headed by Buhari, had recorded much improvements, adding that these are verifiable.
According to him, “One of the major achievements of this administration is the sustenance of safety, which has been phenomena. It is on record that since this administration came on board, there has not been any accident to commercial airlines, which has further boosted and restored confidence of the flying public.”
He, however, stated that these achievements would not have been attained without the strong regulatory function of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He added also that under this present administration, the country’s air travel has enjoyed huge safety record, which he described as tremendous.
He listed the achievements so far recorded to include: growing and sustaining the domestic aviation industry, re-introduction of zero import duties on aircraft, engine and introduction of same for spare parts, intervention to rescue Arik Air and Aero Contractors from total collapse, which according to him would have led to the demise of the two airlines and cause huge loss of jobs by professionals in the sector.
Sirika added that till date, the two carriers Aero and Arik Air are operating under receivership.
The Minister emphasised that just last December, this government with the approval of Buhari paid 50 per cent of severance and retirement benefits to 5,966 staff of the liquidated former national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited(NAL),adding that the beneficiaries held a ‘thank you’ rally to appreciate the President for walking the talk.
Recalled that NAL was questionably liquidated by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and since its liquidation, several ministers and governments in the country refused to pay them their severance packages.
Speaking on the refusal of successive governments to pay the entitlements of ex- NAL workers, Sirika said, “I think it was bad for the system. You don’t treat your citizens bad and expect the younger ones to put in their best into the system, but President Buhari ensured that they were paid part of their benefits. I can however assure you that the remaining balance would be paid as promised.”
Also listed by Sirika as one of the achievements of this administration was the full re- accreditation of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency Regional Training Centre by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in June 2018 to continue offering courses for meteorological personnel from West, Central and North Africa.
Also mentioned by the Minister as part of the milestones of the Buhari-led administration was the certification of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos in April, 2017 and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja also in November, 2017, adding that it was the first ever airport certification in Nigeria.
In his words, “Let it be known that the certification of the two airports by NCAA placed Nigeria on the pivotal of aviation on the continent as no country in Africa has two of its international airports certified. Also, the certifications of Kano and Port Harcourt Airports have reached advanced stages and would be achieved this year.”
