HISTORY, AS NIGERIAN EMERGES ICAO PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE- HISTORY AS NIGERIAN EMERGES ICAO PRESIDENT

November 19, 2013 at 11:11am

* Oduah Congratulates Jonathan, Nigerians

* I will not fail you-Aliu Assures

Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu (President ICAO) 

History was made yesterday (Monday, November 18th, 2013) in Montreal, Canada as President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation of  the aviation sector received the endorsement of the international community as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) unanimously elected a Nigerian and the first African, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu as the President of the ICAO.

The election, of Dr Aliu whose term commences on Januray 1, 2014 through December 31st 2016, took place at the ICAO Council Chambers. The Proposal of the Nigerian representative was made by his Singaporean counterpart, Ng Teachiou and seconded by the representative from  Saudi Arabia.

All the voting members of the council, were called Country after country to voice their position on the candidature of Aliu and they unanimously declared their support for the Nigerian candidate. This was swiftly followed by a unanimous vote and declaration of Dr Aliu as the new President of the Council by then outgoing President Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez . His declaration as the new ICAO helmsman was greeted with a thunderous ovation and congratulations from fellow Council members.

Gonzalez who presided over the election with the Secretary General Raymond Benjamin, expressed satisfaction with the  conduct and called on all members to extend the same level of cooperation given to him to the new President. He extolled the virtues of Aliu, expressing  confidence that the Council and ICAO will grow from strength to strength under the new President.

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has congratulated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the government and people of Nigeria as well as Dr Aliu on his election as the new President of ICAO. Oduah stated that Aliu”s election, the first African to head the international civil aviation body is a landmark event. She said the victory should be dedicated to the President who nominated and supported the country's candidature all the way from beginning to the end.



'' The election of Dr Aliu is another historic moment for Nigeria's aviation sector, coming shortly after the historic signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel. I want to dedicate this victory to Mr President, who not only nominated Dr Aliu for the position, but also gave his full support for his candidature from beginning to the end. This victory would not have been possible without his full interest in Nigeria's aspiration to lead the global aviation body. My congratulations go to him, the government and people of Nigeria and Dr Aliu himself'', the Minister declared.


Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Dr George Ossi who led the Nigerian delegation and witnessed the historic moment inside the Chambers, thanked all member states and Council members for their support and election of Nigeria's candidate, Dr Aliu. ''On behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, the good people of Nigeria and indeed Africa, I wish to thank you all for the support and election of Dr Aliu as the new President of the Council'', he said.


 He called on the Council to continue to support the new President, stressing that ''your cooperation and collaboration with him will ensure that the Council and indeed ICAO as an organisation continues to promote safe, secure, efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable civil aviation globally''.

In his acceptance speech, Aliu thanked the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for nominating him for the position as well as the ''Representatives on the Council and to all member states of the Council for electing me to the exalted office of President of Council''.


He said he felt honoured and humbled by the trust and confidence reposed in him and ''will do everything in my power to justify your confidence''. Aliu who has been Nigerias representative to the World body since 2006, said he was ready for the challenge and will not fail Nigerians and the global aviation Community in ensuring safer, more secure, efficient and sustainable civil aviation industry'' in the world.



Joe Obi, SA (Media) to Hon. Minister of Aviation

ICAO Hqtrs, Montreal

Canada.

ENUGU INT'L AIRPORT

JONATHAN: PROMISE FULFILLED. AS HISTORIC INT'L FLIGHT LANDS IN ENUGU

-As Historic International Flight lands in Enugu 

"During my campaign for election as President in 2011, one of the promises I made to Nigerians was to bring about transformation of the national economy. This promise is being delivered in the South East Geo-political Zone through, amongst other key interventions; the transformational  work going on not only here at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, but also at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri", President Jonathan declared on Saturday, May 18, 2013 during the Foundation Laying/Commissioning Ceremony of the remodeled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Indeed, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's Transformation Agenda is getting full expression in the Aviation sector not only in the renewal of airport infrastructure, especially Terminal rehabilitation and upgrade, but also very poignantly for the people of the South East, as the first international flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines lands at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu today, August 24, 2013.

For the people of the land-locked region and it's environs stretching to the South South and parts of the Middle Belt, it has been a long dream come true; almost like a Long Walk To Freedom. Although the Enugu airport had in fact borne the name 'International' since it was officially so designated on December 17, 2010 by then Acting President Jonathan, all hope of actually playing host to international flights had remained forlorn for the people of the region-until today, that is!

When the President rolled out his Transformation Agenda with promises of a new dawn, a lot of hopes were expectedly raised. Now those hopes have crystalized into reality for people from the South East zone who were assured that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, would truly answer its name in the lifetime of the Jonathan Presidency. This is concrete proof that this President keeps promises once they are made.

This historic international flight, perhaps the first since after the Civil War, is both symbolic and revolutionary. It symbolizes the end of an era where an entire region was almost shut out from the rest of the world, literally speaking, to one where the same enclave is now open to a new and exciting world of endless possibilities. According to President Jonathan, "the South East Region of Nigeria, with this  international airport, can confidently  say to the world 'we are open for business'! The region and it's environs is indeed open for business. This inaugural flight is equally revolutionary as this singular development will certainly change the way of life of the inhabitants of the region, forever.

Before now, anyone residing in the zone and hoping to embark on international trip to other African, Asian, European and American countries had to suffer the agony of traveling to either Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja or Kano not out of choice but compulsion, to catch a flight. President Jonathan lamented this much at the same occasion when he stated thus:

"There was a very good reason for the decision to confer international status on this airport. As I am sure you all know, Enugu is the gateway to the South East Region, the home of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. With such a large number of enterprising people with a huge propensity to travel both within and outside the country pursuing various business interests, people of this region have always had to travel first, either to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja or Kano in order to be able to travel out of the country on business trips.

" As business people, speed and time are of the essence. Thus the ability to travel directly to your destination abroad or as directly from your base as possible, increases the speed of your transactions by reducing the time you spend traveling to and from there. The same applies to goods procured abroad and air-freighted into the country for business purposes. The more directly imported goods can be air-freighted to the region for its businessmen and women, the faster their goods and products can get to the market".

The President could not have said it more  succinctly. Interestingly, all this lamentation and agony is over. Ethiopian airlines, taking full advantage of world-class infrastructure at the airport, has banished all that agony and misery to the trash can of history as a whole new experience unfolds.

For a people known for their industry and enterprise, the opportunities which this international airport offer for the socio-economic development of the region are huge and boundless. With a large population of international businessmen and entrepreneurs, the zone could not have asked for anything better. Gone are the days when businessmen from the zone would endlessly agonize how; having cargoed or ferried their goods from far-flung parts of the globe to either Lagos or Abuja, would face the fresh Herculean task of clearing and moving them, mostly by road to the South East. Additional expense had been incurred, goods and lives even lost in this highly perilous journey from Lagos and Abuja to the east. With Ethiopian airlines now offering direct international flights from Enugu to almost any destination in the globe, the  world is truly in the pocket of the South East. A new dawn is here. The world has in fact come to the east!

That is not all, neither is it even scratching the surface. The multiplier effect of the value chain that would be created as businesses spring up in and around the airport and the city of Enugu beats every imagination. The commercial offerings would not only boost the economy of the zone but also create thousands of jobs. The hospitality industry in the area is sure to witness a resurgence and boom. Commerce,  which is the major preoccupation of the peoples of this zone would begin to boom as the  Onitsha and Ariaria International market, Aba begin to play host not only to the local folks, but also to a wider international business community. This is also not talking about the huge opportunity for easy export of manufactured and agricultural goods. The local manufacturer in the remotest part of Aba and Nnewi and the rural farmer in Arochukwu would be exposed to the international markets as flights take off and land in Enugu from all corners of the globe. The possibilities are indeed endless, with the airport amongst the 13 also designated as perishable cargo airports in the country.

The vision of Mr President could not have seen the light of day without the drive and boundless energy of the Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah. Under her watch, the entire aviation sector in Nigeria has been transformed from the once neglected, rustic and decrepit landscape to sprawling, edifying and dignifying architectural show-pieces that compare favourably with airport terminals anywhere in the world. But as Oduah has consistently maintained, what we are witnessing today in Enugu is just the beginning; more and more landmarks are underway. From what we have seen so far, we have no reason to doubt her.

For Ethiopian airlines that placed the bet on Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu, we can only wish it to fly higher. Surely, it won't be long before other international airlines followed the Ethiopian example. For now, we cannot but agree with Mr President that the South East region is indeed "Open to the world for Business".

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation