ICAO commends FG for efforts to develop air travel sector

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has acknowledged the Federal Government’s effort to reposition the aviation sector and set it on the path of growth.

President of ICAO, Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, in Montreal, Canada, said efforts in the area of capacity building, infrastructure development and security were preparing the sector in Nigeria and the region for growth.

Aliu, while receiving the visiting government’s delegate in Canada, expressed delight seeing steps being taken on a number of initiatives and activities discussed during his last visit to Abuja. He said: “I have taken note of all the efforts you are putting in place to advance these issues to raise the level of aviation development in Nigeria and in the region.

“In particular in the area of capacity building, I have read many times your reference with the need of Nigeria to have an aviation university. You have also been talking about the need to enhance the level of training in Zaria.

“From the information reaching me, it seems as far as Zaria, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology becoming a regional training center of excellence we are on course on that. We will soon have very good news in respect to that with the process of assessment,” Aliu said.In the area of security, he recalled that the result of the last audit was quite heartwarming with “Nigeria scoring over 96 per cent in our audit”.

“That is very heartwarming and it is a good example for developing security. Aviation security is becoming a critical aspect of global security. Recently just last week the Assembly at the United Nations adopted a resolution focused on Aviation Security and that resolution recognized the effort of ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’. We are going to focus more attention on that in years to come.

“After the ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF), ICAO is focusing on Infrastructure Development as vehicle in support of Implementation of Standards to assist states with socio-economic development. It is important and heartwarming what you said that aviation is now a component part of National Development Plan of Nigeria. That is great example for our members to follow.

“Let me congratulate you once again the Honourable Minister on the effort of the government to transform aviation industry in Nigeria. I will continue to ask that you continue to apply effort to support other states in the region.”Aliu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Aviation for the support being given to him and ICAO.

Expressing his desire to see Nigeria elected into the ICAO council due to the country’s contribution to aviation globally, Aliu said: “I personally cannot imaging an ICAO Council without the participation of Nigeria because of the role Nigeria is playing in advancing the course of International civil aviation in the Africa region and within ICAO to support other developing countries in the spirit of the ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative.

Conveying the Federal Government’s message to ICAO, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the government recognized Aliu’s hard work in championing aviation safety and security around the world.

“Your programmes and objectives that are set out for ICAO is unprecedented, which makes us proud of you. This is also been shown in your reelection. You are a worthy ambassador of the country. We are proud that you can put Nigeria on the world map of aviation. The President has asked me to convey his best wishes to you,” Sirika said.