AVIATION RECORDS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN 2013 - PRESS RELEASE

As aviation stakeholders in Nigeria take stock of activities in the industry in 2013, the consensus of opinion is that the industry recorded significant milestones during the year.

It is also believed that these achievements were products of the Aviation Sector Master Plan (otherwise known as the Aviation Roadmap) created by the Honourable Minister of Aviation , Princess Stella Oduah to facilitate the implementation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the aviation industry.

Some of these milestones include the Airport Remodelling Project, which has led to the structural transformation of many airport terminals across the country, in keeping with international standards and practices. During the year, work also started on the construction of five new international airport terminals in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu under a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Nigeria and China.

Another significant milestone is the commencement of international flights by Ethiopian Airlines at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on August 24, the first international flight from the south-east geopolitical zone of the country since independence. Following the remodelling of the international terminal of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Turkish Airlines joined the list of foreign airlines operating at the airport on December 13.

On October 29, Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air services Agreement (BASA) with Israel in Tel Aviv for the commencement of direct flights between the two countries.

The ‘E’ and ‘D’ fingers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have been expanded extensively and put to use, with a full complement of such modern facilities as conveyor belts, security screening machines, immigration counters and transit lounges, which are at various stages of completion.

The introduction of aerotropolis (airport cities) and perishable cargo export into the country’s aviation industry are major landmarks that are designed to make the industry make significant contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) even in the short term.

The power and water improvement projects already being implemented at some airports, are projects that are designed not only to enhance safety and security at airports but would make life more comfortable for airport users at terminals.

One major symbolic event that took place in the industry in 2013 is the removal of abandoned aircraft from the country’s airports. These abandoned aircraft not only constituted safety and security hazards but were also an eyesore especially to first time visitors to Nigeria. Several aviation ministers in the past had tried to remove these abandoned aircraft but failed.

A number of policies were also introduced by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Oduah during this period, some of which were the removal of import duties on aircraft spares, providing an enabling environment for local airline operators to acquire new aircraft, reintroduction of a national carrier for the country and the automation of revenue points of all parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation.

Yakubu Dati

Co-ordinating GM (COMMUNICATIONS), Aviation Parastatals