NATIONAL AIRLINE: Workers Unions’ Leadership Clamor for Presidential Directive to Bring National Airline to Birth
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Capt Chris Ona Najomo, Director General Civil Aviation, DGCA, NCAA, AVIATION MAN OF THE YEAR 2024, (3rd right); next to his right, Comrade AbdulRazaq Seidu, Sec Gen, ANAP, announced the workers’ expectation on the national airline for delivery to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, enroute the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo. Next is Barr Oluwabukola Aduragbemi Teriba, Lagos Regional Manager, NCAA. Crowned by ATQM, REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2024, at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. 6th March 2025
It was a well-known fact that the Nigeria Air static show of public presentation in May 2023 was the ugliest in delivering public service to the citizenry. None could be compared to that broad daylight roguery event in Nigeria’s history before, and after independence in 1960 down to date hence, the aviation workers leadership has made a fervent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to without any further ado, issue the much-needed directive to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, to assemble patriotic Nigerian experts to bring to fruition a national carrier startup, in a record timeline.
Comrade AbdulRazaq Seidu, General Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAP, made the clarion call Thursday, at the annual Air Transport Quarterly Magazine, ATQM, award to distinguished individuals and corporate organizations credited with outstanding performance in any of the aviation value chain in 2024.
Comrade Seidu while presenting the plaque for the award of “Aviation Man of the Year 2024” to the Director General Civil Aviation, DGCA, Capt Chris Ona Najomo, crave the indulgence of the organizers and that of the DGCA, to help him on behalf of the teeming aviation workers, deliver the reminder to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo, who in turn shall let PBAT have a feel of aviation workers’ opinion on the much touted national airline establishment.
Comrade Seidu said benefits from the resources Nigeria had in her, the population, and of which, appreciable fraction are making a showing in international travels, are reaped by foreign airlines.
He said that most of all the African countries now jostling to establish airlines and especially those in existence and are now craving for international destinations have their eyes on Nigeria and their target customers are Nigerian travellers.
Comrade Seidu, a septuagenarian and a guru in organizing responsible workers unionism reasoned that without Nigeria’s national airline, only marginal benefit would accrue to the government coffers from the Bilateral Air-transport Services Agreement, BASA.
Seidu said not until Nigeria establish her national carrier which will reciprocate flight frequencies enjoyed by most international airlines, would Nigeria be able to realize appreciable benefits.
Responding to the award bestowed on him as the Aviation Man of the Year 2024, Capt Najomo, aka Jolly Papa, promised to deliver to Mr Festus Keyamo, when he arrives in Abuja.
On the award, Najomo said it will be dedicated to the entire work force of NCAA. He added that he was extremely grateful to his management team, the regional managers, the managers because when all the line managers and staff conscientiously do their beats, his work as the DG/CEO becomes gratifying and not cumbersome.
Capt Najomo noted that what ATQM award said of him had been said by some other organizations and individuals which were indication that NCAA as an institution maintains the right trajectory that would facilitate the continuous growth and development of air transport in Nigeria.
OTHER ATQM 2024 AWARD WINNERS- CORPORATE & INDIVIDUALS
Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, was bestowed the “Outstanding Star Leadership in Aviation”, Award.
Engr Farouk Ahmed Umar, Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, clinched “Beacon of Innovative Air Safety Leadership”
Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, “A Trailblazing CEO of The Year 2024
Prof Charles Anosike, Director General, DG, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, “Excellence in Weather Forecast” through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET.
Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT; bagged “Diamond Anniversary Award For Aviation Education & Training “
Engr Akin Olateru, “The Lifetime Achievement” award
Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, bagged, “Transformation Leadership Award”
Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO Plc, bestowed the “Ground Handling Company Of The Year 2024.
Skyway Aviation Handling Company, SAHCO Plc, bestowed “Ground Handling Company in Logistics Innovation”
Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, Governor of Ekiti State, bagged “Governor of the year in Aviation and Tourism”
Akinola Olaposi, “Aviation Cooperative Innovator Of The Year”
Sadiq Saheed Anako, “Leads in Aviation Cooperative Governance”
Barr Oluwabukola Aduragbemi Teriba, “The Regional Manager of the Year 2024”
Akwa Ibom Air: “The Airline Of The Year 2024”
National Union Of Air Transport Employees, NUATE: “The Most Resilient Aviation Trade Union”
The big masquerade, which traditionally maintains the rare at the den of the deity, yet was inescapable as;
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA: the “Best Digital Transformation Initiatives In Consumer Protection,, 2024”
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