Renowned political economist and Labour Party chieftain, Prof Pat Utomi has revealed his party’s plan to standardise all the nation’s airports to meet up international standard.
Prof Utomi promised that if the party is voted into power, it will sack any airport manager, managing an airport that does not measure up to international standards after six months.
Utomi disclosed this during quarterly Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative Business Breakfast Meeting (BBM) in Lagos themed: ‘Aviation in Nigeria Beyond 2023 General Election Challenges & Prospects’.
According to the professor, there is no reason why Nigerian airports should not be properly managed to provide common services that meet up to international standards.
“If we get into government, we would fire any airport manager if in six months, the airport he manages does meet standards seen in other parts of the world.
“What is so difficult about having a toilet that is clean that people can use at our airports? Our politics should be about detailing how things happen and how people should be held accountable if it does not happen. We travel all over the world and come back to see something different. This will no longer be allowed,” Utomi said.
Speaking on some of the plans of the party for the aviation industry, Utomi said the party plans to build many cities in Nigeria and link these cities using intermodal transport systems.
He said there has to be rail systems and small propeller aircraft and airports linked to these hubs, adding that the aviation industry has to be positioned to drive these developments.
Utomi said the biggest challenge to development in Nigeria is weak institutions.
“This is no longer the moment for politics of transactions. It is time to redeem the nation. When people know there are consequences for their actions, then they will begin to do the right things,” he added.
He said once a government insists on the rule of law, institutions will begin to do what is right.
The Business Breakfast Meeting was organized by Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART) an apolitical aviation-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) established to advocate air safety and security in all areas of the aviation industry.
It was a forum whereby the frontline presidential candidates were invited to dissect the numerous challenges currently impeding the development of aviation industry with the 2023 general elections in view.
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.
