The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika on Thursday revealed that the aviation development roadmap by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is now 90 per cent completion and it is set to contribute $14.2 billion to economy.
The Minister who spoke extensively at the ‘Aviation Stakeholders Forum’ on Thursday in Abuja said, the Air Nigeria project was also 98 per cent completed and will take off before May 29, when President Muhammadu Buhari will hand over to another administration.
Speaking on the scorecard of the Ministry since his assumption of Office as the Minister, Sirika said, the roadmap when completed would increase contribution of the industry to the economy from the current 0.6 per cent to five per cent.
He expressed joy that most of the items in the road map have been achieved.
The Minister who serves for the entire eight years of President Buhari noted that the 12-point framework for the sector which was launched in 2016 are, establishment of a national carrier, development of agro-allied /cargo terminals, establishment of Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) centre, Aviation Leasing Company (ALC), Aerotropolis (airport cities), Aviation & Aerospace University and concession of the five international airports (Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt).
Others, according to the plan are: “Upgrade of NCAT into an ICAO Regional Training Centre of Excellence, Designation of Four International Airports as Special Economic Zones, Introduction of Policies on Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Adherence to Employment Policies on Enforcement of Expatriate Quota, Upgrade of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to a Multi-modal Accident Investigation Agency – Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The Minister stated that negotiation meeting with Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium was ongoing, adding that Nigeria stands to benefit from the establishment of the national carrier as it will reduce capital flight, optimal benefit of BASA and SAATM and development of an aviation hub.
