PRESIDENT JONATHAN HOSTS DR ALIU, ICAO PRESIDENT- ELECT

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will on Friday, December 6th, 2013) play Host to Nigeria and Africa's first President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu in Abuja.

Dr Aliu was elected by the 36-Member Council of the organisation on November 18th, 2013 in Montreal, Canada. 

Dr Aliu, who arrived the country today, will be joined by a High-Powered delegation of the Leadership of the Council led by Out-going President, Mr Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez. Gonzalez's team will arrive Nigeria today. While in the country, Dr Aliu, accompanied by the Out-going President will pay Courtesy Visits on President Jonathan, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and Speaker, House Of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

The ICAO Leadership would later be Hosted by the President to a State Banquet at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. 

Dr. Aliu made history on November 18th, 2013 in Montreal, Canada when he was unanimously elected President of the ICAO Council. His term commences on January 1, 2014 and ends on December 31st, 2016. He is the first African to lead the organisation in the over seven decades of its existence. 

His election has been described as historic and hailed not only in Nigeria, but also across the African Continent. Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah  said the election of Aliu to head the international civil aviation body is a landmark event, adding it is an endorsement of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration in the Aviation sector.  

'' 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', Oduah stated on hearing the news of the election.

ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security and efficiency as well as for aviation environmental protection. The Organisation serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation amongst its 191 Member States.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation