Minister of state, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said the establishment of a national carrier, the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport as well as the introduction of Aviation Development Fund which is to fund remodeling of the airports across the country and sustain existing structures cannot be overemphasized.
Senator Hadi Sirika said this in his office, this morning during the formal handing over to him by the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello.
Speaking, the Minister of State said that he would ensure that every fund meant for projects in the aviation sector will be gotten judiciously and appropriately used to bring the desired change to the sector.
The Minister said the aviation sector comprises of professionals. He emphasized training and re-training of staff of the sector to enhance their proficiency and cover for possible errors.
He said, “I know 95% of you here, some are my colleagues, friends and even my senior in the sector. Please do not leverage on the relationship, do your work and be the boss, don’t take your work for granted; I am the boss”.
The outgoing Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Binta Bello, while handing over the affairs of the Ministry to the Minister of State, Senator Hadi Sirika, said the Ministry of Aviation during her six months sojourn delivered effectively on the core mandate of ensuring safety, security and comfort of air travellers.
Hajiya Binta Bello said some of the challenges of the Aviation sector and constraints faced by the Ministry include: Dwindling Federal Government Appropriation for Capital Projects on repayment of DMO/Chinese EXIM Bank Loans; non-existence of national carrier, high rate of equipment/instruments; obsolesce and degradation; high third party indebtedness and slow pace of infrastructural development.
However, the outgoing permanent secretary said, to further improve service delivery in the aviation sector and enhance the nation’s GDP, the following matters require urgent decision/action: Review of Enabling Laws of the Agencies; Establishment of a national carrier; construction of second Abuja runway; completion of on-going airports’ remodeling projects and air navigation infrastructure; introduction of Aviation Development Fund; settlement of debts to agencies; and inclusion of Aviation sector as a priority programme of Government in the 2016 budget and the Medium Term Successor PLAN (2016-2020).
On the vexed issue of the second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the outgoing Permanent Secretary asserted that there was no subsisting contract for the project and that only the design consultancy has been advertised.
Binta Bello assured the Minister that she is leaving behind a crop of competent and highly committed civil servants and professionals to work with. She urged the staff to extend their cooperation and support to the Minister as he discharges his duty and responsibilities towards the growth of the Aviation sector.
The Permanent Secretary of Transportation Ministry, Sabiu Zakari, while welcoming the Minister of State, Aviation, pledged the support and loyalty of the staff to the Minister.
He admonished the staff to support the Minister in his duty to achieve the Buhari administration’s focus of change as fast as possible.
Sabiu Zakari, while wishing the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Binta Bello success in her new office, promised that all the good work started by the outgoing Permanent Secretary will continue and be sustained.
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