…. Unveils Transaction Advisers
By Christel Odili
The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has said that the full implementation of its roadmap would lead to improved service standards,
contribute to on-going diversification and enhance the sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Sen. Hadi Sirika, while addressing stakeholders on Thursday at the 4th Aviation Stakeholders Forum in Abuja, said that Federal Government was committed to attract increased trade and inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigerian’s aviation sector.
He disclosed that, government was also committed to provide the requisite capacity and manpower, especially aviation business managers and scientists to engage in research and development.
“We want to develop an industry that provides all the maintenance needs in the country thereby reducing capital flight. “We are also determined to ensure optimum utilization of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and Multilateral Air Service Agreement (MASA) to the advantage of indigenous airlines.
“Government is committed to developing an industry with improved infrastructure and quality service delivery,’’ he said.
According to him, part of government’s vision, according to him, were establishing a business model that will make the industry self-sustaining through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He added that government remains committed to making air transportation the preferred and safest means of transportation, creating a self-sustaining business model to drive socio-economic growth in Nigeria. The minister said the vision of the government for the industry was to develop a hub to take full advantage of Nigeria’s potentials in aviation.
Speaking further, he said, measures have been taken to address the high rate of equipment /instrument obsolescence and degradation, as well as inadequate technical and Aging Workforce. The minister said non-optimization of Bilateral/Multilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA/MASA) was another major challenge confronting the industry.
While unveiling the transaction advisers, he noted that they have been working on developing the business case in line with Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) regulation for concession of four international airports and establishment of national carrier. He assured that the process would be transparent, adding that all stakeholders would be carried along.