WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT: Nigeria Best Environment for Aviation to Flourish- Hadi Sirika
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Senator Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, at the World Government Summit, Dubai
Nigeria has been described as the best place for airlines business to flourish hence the meteoric rise/growth the aviation industry had recorded since the inception of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari under the aegis of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, expressed this notion while contributing to a panel discussion on global aviation at the two day World Government Summit 2022, in Dubai.
Senator Hadi Sirika said available statistics had progressively been given the government cause for cheers as the serviceable airports had doubled, prospecting airlines had doubled and aviation was positioned as the fastest growing sector of the national economy
He reiterated that the Aviation Road Map developed by the Buhari regime was running its full course without wavering.
While Sirika was reeling out the different programs and projects on the road map for execution and those already being executed, another panellist, Sir Timothy Clarke, President of Emirates interjected, and asked why the need for a national airline?
Responding, the minister enthused that by the over 200 million population of Nigeria, of which a sizeable percentage were frequent travellers, the national flag carrier would be of service to the people and numerous others.
Sirika reminded the Emirates helmsman that because of the travelling population that was abound among Nigerians, the Gulf airlines were falling head over heels to apply for multiple frequencies, more slots and multiple entry points.
The minister also noted that with the about half a billion population in the West coast of Africa which had been viewed as a prosperous aviation belt, he said Nigeria and her flag carrier would provide the needed buckle for air transport on the west coast.
While given his parting shot, Sirika further highlighted why the national flag carrier must be birthed because, according to him, the present administration had succeeded in expanding the nation’s airport capacity to 50 million passengers per annum.
He also cited statistics that indicated that the flying public had also increased from merely 8 million in 2014/2015 to 18 million travellers within a spate of 6 years hence, the national flag carrier must be birthed to efficiently and effectively service all the growth the President Muhammadu Buhari government had facilitated.
However, the President of Emirates, Sir Timothy Clarke, pledged that Emirates will be willing to provide support to the Nigeria flag carrier start-up and will also be available for collaboration to aid the speedy growth of Nigeria Air.
Meanwhile the President, Airport Council International, ACI, H.E. Luis Oliveira, said Africa which comprised 15 per cent of the global population accounted for merely 2 per cent of the global traffic.
Hence Oliveira said Africa deserved all the support she could get to improve her air transport in all facets of the business.
Other panellists included the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, council, Mr Salvadore Sciacchitano. The global talk show was moderated by Richard Quest.
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