Photo Caption:
The Hon. Minister of Aviation (Centre), the Permanent Representative ofUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) on the ICAO Council, Capt. Aysha Alhameli (Left) and Capt. Musa Nuhu after a meeting with Capt. Alhameli at the office of the Nigerian Permanent Representative in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Montreal, Canada …Thursday.
The minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said that Nigeria is a great supporter of liberalization and has continued to champion the liberalization efforts in Africa through the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Speaking at the 40th ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada,
Sirika called on the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO to continue to encourage and support regional liberalization efforts of States, as they could be used as incentives to achieving global multilateral agreement on liberalization of market access.
He stated that Nigeria’s efforts on liberalization has led to significant increase in the operations of foreign and domestic airlines and utilization of her airports, resulting in an annual traffic growth of over eight percent.
The minister explained that: “Our determination is to make Nigeria the hub of the West African Sub-region, and make air travel the preferred mode of transportation especially with a population of over 180million and a large land mass.
We are fully aware that achieving these would require a robust industry that is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally friendly, with modern and adequate infrastructure”.
He explained further that in the area of Safety, Nigeria within the last three years, has continued to work towards sustaining the successes achieved in the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s International Aviation Safety Assessment Category 1 Rating, through the strengthening of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to keep regulating aviation safety without political interference.
According to him: “Nigeria has continued to collaborate with ICAO and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), to promote safety in our sub-region by actively supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan) and the hosting and substantial funding of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO), a regional safety organization, which has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory”
In the area of aviation security, Sirika said Nigeria has continued to record significant improvements in this area with the installation of modern security equipment at the nation’s airports, continuous implementation of our national aviation security programme and up-to-date training for Aviation Security Personnel.
Sirika stated that Nigeria has continued to participate in the ICAO Public Key Directory (ICAO PKD), and support ICAO’s efforts to provide assistance to other West African States in their programmes to introduce e-passport.
He said the country has embarked on infrastructure resuscitation and has made substantial investments in the provision of modern landing and navigational equipment, upgrade and replacement of airports infrastructural facilities including runway resurfacing, airport perimeter fencing, fire fighting and other rescue equipment, airfield lighting among others.
Sirika added that Nigeria remains a major provider of facilities for International Civil Aviation.
He solicited the support of ICAO member States for the country’s re-election into Part 2 of the ICAO Council, including support for the election and re-election of those African States, which have been endorsed by the African Civil Aviation Commission, to the ICAO Council.
