Opinion Ed: Aviation Industry in Nigeria, the Great Metamorphosis

by Ugwuja Johnson Udoka

Infrastructural development taking place in Nigerian airports, from those located at the heart of the Savannah in the north, to those at the fringe of the rain forest in the South, bears eloquent testimony to the success of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government in the aviation industry. 

The nation’s airports now wear a new look with the grand re-modelling project currently going on at the airports, courtesy of the foresight of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the courage and determination of the Honorable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. 

It is no longer news that ultra-modern airport terminals are springing up at various airports at the blink of an eye. What is news now is the great impact of this developmental metamorphosis and the deep-seated attitudinal change it has brought about in airport users nationwide. 

There is no doubt, environment affects attitude. Airport environment hitherto commanded no respect as users could afford to splash and litter the environment at ease. The story is different today. The saying that cleanliness is next to godliness has truly found meaning in our airports. Travelers and other airport users can afford to savor fresh air while transiting to various destinations and transacting businesses at the nation’s airports. 

It was indeed a moment of true confession and kudos to the Honorable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, at the recently concluded 24th Enugu International Trade Fair, in which the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) participated actively. Investors and discerning members of the public who visited FAAN’s stand lauded the efforts of the present leadership in the aviation industry. Some of them literally went emotional as they praised the invisible hand that tele-guided Princess Stella Oduah into the aviation industry as the Honorable Minister. 

This was how Mr. Abiola Daisy Idufueko of Que Initiative (NGO), No. 2A Idahosa Street, Off 2nd Cemetery Road, Edo State, expressed his joy and enthusiasm about the transformation in the aviation industry in the country: “With what we have seen in Benin Airport, we are very very impressed. We say to Princess, the sky is your starting point. God bless you real good.” Dr. Nwaneri of Department of Surgery, University Teaching Hospital, Enugu picked it from there: “I am impressed with what I saw.” That was not all. Passion came alive with the commendation from Njoku Obiageli of Union Bank of Nigeria, Okpara Avenue, Enugu State: “You are really doing a great job in re-modelling our airports. Keep it up.”

It did not end there. Valentine Poly Okafor of Union Express Ltd, 1 Garden Avenue Enugu, lauded the current change in aviation industry thus: “Highly impressed with the transformation going on nationwide in the airports of our country by Princess Adaeze. Kudos!! The encomiums continued unabated while the trade fair lasted.

From what our highly esteemed visitors confessed above, one thing is clear: that the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, has surpassed her predecessors, as today’s airports, under her close watch, have become the pride of the Nigerian people, who now see themselves as the true owners of the nation’s airport business.

Genuine investors from all walks of life, across the globe, are now willing to collaborate with the Ministry of Aviation and FAAN to explore the investment opportunities at Nigerian airports as exemplified by the MoU signed by the Governments of China and Nigeria to build five world-class ultra-modern international airport terminals in Nigeria. This is an indication that the present handlers of aviation matters in the country have won both domestic and international trust and confidence. This means that the aviation industry in Nigeria is truly playing a key role in making Nigeria realize her vision of becoming one of the biggest 20 economies in the  world come year 2020.

The current revolution in aviation industry in Nigeria has generated many job opportunities in the last one year as ready employees now find succor in the industry. 

What else need be said? To revive a sub-sector hitherto in coma and bring it to the limelight, placing it in a vantage position of serving as the engine of the nation’s economic growth, is no mean task to say the least.

It is on this note that we congratulate Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah and the Managing Director/CEO, FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, for the metamorphosis that has taken place at our airports in the last one year, making them the pride of the nation.

Ugwuja Johnson Udoka writes from the Corporate Communications Department, FAAN Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.

NCAP: Beyond comfort, rethinking safety of private aircraft owners

Aviation Nigeria

by Tahir Sherriff

Private jets are fast and wonderfully convenient. They can access hundreds of airports throughout the world, making it possible to go places you just can’t get into on large commercial aircraft. But there is also the downside.

Many were held spell bound at the awful fate which befell former Governor of Taraba state Dan Baba Suntai. Some refer to it as an act of fate, a plan by enemies or a will of God. For others however, like professionals in the aviation industry, it is a simple case of airline safety regulation violation.

There have been a string of irregularities by airline operators as well as agencies offering aviation services. The irregularities could be trivial, such as pilgrims complaining of having their seats sold out. Or in some cases complex, like controversies on whether the responsibility for the Helicopter crash which led to the death of Governor Yakowa of Kaduna state should have been allotted to the Ministry of Aviation as against the Nigerian Navy.

In a bid to ensure coordinated safe and secure airline operations in Nigeria, the Federal Government issued the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013. A policy which the the Federal Government maintains is designed to provide a platform for the way forward and future prospects of the aviation industry.

The policy however has caused media up-roar, especially when representatives of private jet owners like Globalcom giant Mike Adenuga, Global fleets Jimoh Ibrahim, as well as business tycoons Aliko Dangote and Harry Akande have began to scrutinize for loopholes and clauses within the policy which may result in a conflict of interests.

A key area which has requested clarification in the recent policy is a series of clauses that have been interpreted as a move by the Federal Government to ban private Jet owners from carrying friends and relatives, with requests on clarification to which a response by the Federal Government is still being anticipated.

However it must be noted that the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013 deals with issues beyond the interests of private jet owners. Issues relating to aviation financing, aviation training and development, safety regulations, as well as liabilities arising from crashes and related occurrences were key concepts tackled in the preparation of the policy. A majority of these adjustments have become necessary in the wake of new developments in the aviation sector.

Such policies are also not new, and in most cases are not for the short-run comfort of a few but for the safety of the majority in the long run. Notable in the US are policies requiring fingerprint-based background checks on pilots, as well checking passenger names against a government watch list and restricting what items may be carried onto the airplane.

Aviation regulations are key to the proper functioning of the industry. They help agencies required to not only run more efficiently and effectively, but also cut down unnecessary risk that may lead to loss of lives. They help to solve complex issues like working out legal knots in lease agreements as well as requesting simple information such as: Where the plane is flying, air traffic control, the type of plane, the age of the plane, the experience and training of the pilots and crew, weather conditions, plane and equipment maintenance as well as company procedures and policies.

Dan Baba Suntai was a Private Jet Owner. Like many private jet owners in Nigeria, he was not operating under prescribed regulations. He was fatigued, the weather was hazardous  the flight was un-scheduled and the timing was bad. There was a breach of several regulations resulting to complications for not just the people who were in the aircraft on that fateful jet that day, but also Taraba state and Nigeria in general.

The National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013 may require further clarification by the government as well as aviation professionals who participated in its drafting, in ways that will be clearer to stakeholders. However it must remain clear that the aim of the policy lies beyond the comfort of private jet owners.