September 26, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that it is incumbent upon the legislators to draft policies that promote growth, encourage investment, and ensure safety and security in the aviation sector.
Noting that the aviation sector is, first and foremost, a safety and security-critical industry, Keyamo emphasised that the Ministry ensures, through legislation, that mandatory safety standards provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) are incorporated in our national laws.
As such, he pointed out that the role of legislation and indeed legislators in Nigeria’s aviation sector is critical for the development, regulation, and growth of the aviation industry in the country.
He gave the hint in his goodwill message delivered on Tuesday at a webinar on “Repositioning the Aviation Sector for Revenue Generation and Growth: The Role of the Legislation,” organised by the law firm of Messrs Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL).
He said, “Legislators (comprising the Senate and House of Representatives) of the National Assembly, play various roles to ensure the sector operates efficiently and contributes to Nigeria’s economic development. They have the authority to allocate budgets and approve funding for aviation projects, including airport construction and maintenance, procurement of equipment, and safety enhancements. Ensuring adequate funding is crucial for the sector’s growth and development. Legislators also provide oversight by monitoring the implementation of aviation policies and ensuring that both the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) adhere to regulations and carry out their functions effectively.”
As the representatives of the people, Keyamo stated that the legislators hold a unique position in this partnership to ensure that our aviation sector, amongst other sectors, reaches its full potential.
“Repositioning the aviation sector for revenue generation and growth is a collective endeavour, requiring a harmonious partnership between the executive, legislature, and indeed private sector stakeholders. Nigeria is a signatory to about 29 (Twenty-Nine) International Aviation Treaties and Conventions.
“Ratifying these international treaties and conventions is made possible through legislation. Legislators play a role in ratifying these agreements, and ensuring that they are domesticated in our national laws, which in effect have significant impacts on international air travel and trade and that Nigeria upholds its international obligations therein. We must also remember that a safe and efficient aviation sector is not just an economic imperative but a moral obligation to the millions of passengers who trust our skies every day,” the Minister said.
He re-echoed its five-point agenda, which he listed as strict compliance with national laws and regulations; international obligations; improvement and development of infrastructure for passenger convenience; support for the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses; human capacity development and optimisation of revenue generation.
Speaking further, Keyamo stated: “As the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, I am deeply committed to this agenda. In these challenging times, characterized by evolving market dynamics and global uncertainties, the need to reposition our aviation sector for sustainable growth has never been more pressing. It requires vision, resilience, finances, and collaboration.”
The Minister equally saluted the commitment, initiative and drive of the law firm of Messrs Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) for organising the webinar event and most importantly for creating an advocacy platform where contemporary National issues are x-rayed and relevant policy input harvested for National growth.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
