Nigeria will continue to prioritize aviation safety and security as essential components to expanding the industry, according to President Muhammadu Buhari.This was said by President Buhari on Monday in Abuja at the 14th ICAO Air Services Negotiation meeting.
Additionally, Buhari claimed that Nigeria’s participation in the open sky agreements had brought in significant investments for the aviation industry.
“Nigeria continues to champion the cause of aviation safety, security and facilitation throughout the Continent with our on-going support on the comprehensive regional implementation plan for Aviation Security and the Human Resources Development Fund, HRDF, plans” he said.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the chief of staff for President Buhari, was in attendance.
Additionally, he claimed that Nigeria’s focus on leveraging public-private partnerships is also having an impact.
“Nigeria has adopted a Civil Aviation Policy cantered on liberalization and Public Private Partnership, PPP, initiatives. This has resulted in significant growth of the industry, including huge investments in the Nation Airports which has increased our airports capacities and growth of the domestic airline industry” he said.
Sen. Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, who also spoke at the occasion, reaffirmed that the aviation industry in Nigeria continues to be one of the fastest-growing and has an impact on employment creation.
The ICAO activities offer a special opportunity to share experiences, according to Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in his introductory remarks.
“Since the establishment of this unique global negotiation event by ICAO in 2008, ICAN events have provided participating States with a central congregating point to conduct bilateral, regional or multilateral air services negotiations that result in Air Services Agreements between member States.”
A global platform for networking possibilities for policymakers, regulators, service providers, and other industry stakeholders, according to Nuhu.