The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved a new aviation policy for the operation of commercial airlines and private jets in the country in order to ensure global safety standards.
Speaking at a press briefing after the FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, said the Revised National Policy for Civil Aviation was reviewed because of the change in the global aviation sector.
Oduah said there was the need to regulate the operation of private jets in the country, particularly because of the present state of insecurity and the need to conform to international best practice.
She said that the policy was last reviewed 11 years ago and had to be reviewed to bring it up to the present realities in the aviation sector.
The minister said: "We must have healthy airline operations in order to ensure safety, when airlines are unhealthy, such airline would have difficulty in complying with safety measures."
According to her, under the revised aviation policy, operators of private jets are expected to pay the required charges and levies as stipulated by laws regulating the aviation industry.
She said the major highlights in the policy were general aviation practice regarding private jets which were not properly regulated according to global practice.
Oduah said that the policy addressed the major issues regarding the use of the latest technology to drive the aviation sector to an enviable level.
Similarly, FEC approved the sum of N19.4 billion for the construction of the Karshi Water Supply Scheme under the rural development efforts of the Federal Government
The project is expected to be completed in 30 months.
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, said the water project would address the issue of water scarcity within Karshi and its environs.
While speaking on the performance of his ministry, the Minister of Transport, Idis Umar, said N49.6 billion was approved for the ministry, but only 56 per cent of the money was released
According to him, the ministry recorded remarkable achievement in the resuscitation of the rail system for the movement of people and goods as alternative to road transportation.
Umar said that the rail transportation from Lagos to Kano had been running smoothly.
National Mirror