Four years after Hadi Sirika, resumed office as the minister of State, Aviation, the industry may not be at a perfect condition, but has sustained some level of growth from what it used to be to where it is today.
The re-introduction of zero import duties on aircraft engine, introduction of same for spare parts and the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) from all shared transportation including commercial flights received commendations from all concerned stakeholders.
The ministry’s timely intervention to rescue Arik and Aero Airlines, two of Nigeria’s major airlines from total collapse has also helped in boosting the domestic aviation sector.
Speaking during the 6th Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos, Hadi Sirika assured that the ministry has continued to liaise with relevant MDAs to ensure the smooth implementation of the Presidential Order.
“Government recently commenced the payment of severance and retirement benefits of former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways and ensured a safe and competitive Aviation industry resulting in the opening of new routes, increased passenger volume and better utilisation of the nation’s airports.
“Government also assisted and guided the domestic airlines in the country to attain certification in IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Currently, eight Nigerian domestic airlines have IOSA Certification,” Sirika said.
He disclosed that statistically, the country recorded an average growth of 33percent on domestic operations and 11percent on international operations, adding that Lagos and Abuja Airports are gradually emerging as hubs for the West African sub region.
The certification of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos in April, 2017 and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in November, 2017 are part of efforts by government to reiterate compliance with international standards.
In line with the guidelines and procedures stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the certification of Kano and Port Harcourt airports are in advanced stages.
The minister recalled that the ministry promulgated a new Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation which took effect in July, 2016, adding that the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme undertaken in June, 2015 revealed that Nigeria oversight and compliance indicator was 96.45percent.
“Nigeria achieved an Effective Implementation Level of 67.36percent during the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme carried out in March, 2016 which is above global average of 63.54percent. In the areas of State Safety Programmes, Nigeria has attained Level three out of four levels, thereby moving Nigeria from red to green on the ICAO Dashboard,” he said.
On safety and security infrastructure (Navigational Facilities), Sirika said the ministry has completed the Kano Tower Automated Air Traffic Management and Meteorological Systems and has installed Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Doppler VORs (DVORs) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DMEs) at ten airports.
“The ministry has installed Very High Frequency (VHF) radios for aerodrome and approach air-ground communication in 21 airports nation-wide and upgraded infrastructure at various airports to improve operations especially during hours of darkness and inclement weather.
“There has been commencement of Aeronautical Information Management Automation Project which comprises a network of 26 VSAT facilities at all Nigerian airports as well as Search and Rescue, with coordination domiciled in Lagos.
“The Deployment of Controller-Pilot-Data Link Communication (CPDLC) in Lagos and Kano has enhanced communication in the oceanic region and the remote areas of the north,” Sirika stated.
The minister also said the sector has developed and published Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures for 18 airports and introduced Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) at Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
Sirika also commissioned the multi-million naira International Civil Aviation Organisation approved Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Training School, the Aviation Clinic, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Centrex and other projects at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
Last year, during the Airport Council International (ACI) meeting in Mauritius, FAAN training school was designated as an ICAO training centre.
Saleh Dunoma, FAAN’s former managing director, had last year said that, one of the advantages of the training centre is that it will make it easier for member countries to train their personnel in Nigeria and it is also cheaper for them to come to Nigeria to be trained, rather than going to United Kingdom, United States and other countries around the world.
Another advantage, he said is that there will present more opportunity for those in the region to get trained.
“You know when cost is not really a factor; more people will be factored in for training. There is also accessibility for trainees and the weather conditions are favourable in Nigeria, while the learning facilities are fantastic and new.
“For ICAO to designate us as a training centre, you will know that everything that we needed to put in place have been put in place. The training facilities are up to date. The instructors will be coming from all over the world and they are ICAO trained instructors,” Dunoma said.
IFEOMA OKEKE
