Aviation Minister says Flying Industry gears to attain international best practices

Jos (Federal Ministry of Aviation Report) – “The ongoing transformation efforts in the Aviation Industry is geared towards vigorously contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through effective service delivery in line with international best practices,” the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka said this while delivering a lecture to the participants of Course 36 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos.

Osita Chidoka averred that no nation can compete favourably with the rest of the world without the provision of funding for critical sectors of the economy like the aviation industry. Such subsidies, he said should be based on a sincere and committed public service.

According to the Minister, Nigeria has the potentials to overtake the achievements of places like Dubai, Singapore, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa through the benefits derivable from the sector, in terms of its available natural and human resources. He observed that the aviation sector currently contributes only 0.4% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, stating that as in other sectors, it is associated with low level technology, low productivity and poor Return- on-Investment. He also noted that the absence of direct air linkage between Nigeria and the growing market of Asia denies the nation of revenues accruable to both local airlines and the nation.

While describing the Nigerian Aviation Industry as a sleeping giant with total domestic and international movements put at over 15 million, Chidoka said that the new baseline being developed will seek to monitor measures as well as improve on productivity. He further expressed the desire of the Nigerian Government to launch Nigeria as an aviation hub for the West African sub-region; saying this can be achieved through making the country prepared for the adoption of international best practices in the management of airports.

He conveyed trust in the present administration’s capacity and commitment to achieving the goals of the Transformation Agenda in the aviation industry.