Tag Archives: Sirika

Abuja Airport Closure: Amaechi, Sirika Appear Before Senate.

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The Minister of State for Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika and the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, have appeared before the Senate on Thursday, to explain the reason for the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Senate invited both ministers on Thursday to explain the reason for the closure and rather explore other options besides closing the airport.

According to the lawmakers, closing the airport would bring hardship on local and international travelers.

Mr Sirika, however explained that to continue to operate, the Abuja airport would be unsafe and unreasonable as daily incidents occur on the runway.

Furthermore, the former pilot, stated that every flight plan always has alternate landing routes and Kaduna has always been the alternate for the Abuja airport.

He also pointed out that most of the sections of the runway have collapsed and if multiple sections have collapsed, it means the entire runway has collapsed.

The runway in the Abuja airport was constructed in 1982 with a lifespan of 14 years which had been exceeded.

Airline Operators Urge Sirika To Create Jobs In Aviation Industry

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The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Wednesday urged the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, to use aviation to create jobs for youths in the country.

 

The President of AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

“He should use aviation to create employment for our youths. We have over 500 pilots who are unemployed. We have thousands of unemployed engineers too.

“Aviation can easily generate 100,000 support services. So, he should use aviation to catapult employment in the country,’’ Meggison said.

 

He also advised Sirika to review the policies governing aviation in Nigeria and ensure that they were geared toward economic growth and contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

 

“Right now, we can see that there is decline in our oil revenue. So, they should concentrate on aviation so that it can generate income.

“This can be achieved when the right policies are put in place by the government,’’ the AON president said.

 

Meggison commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing a professional to head the industry, expressing optimism that the minister would bring his wealth of experience to bear in discharging his responsibilities.

He said: “We are happy that we are getting one of us, who is a pilot coming into the industry to head it.

So, we are hoping that he will bring professionalism to the industry. We will support him and wish him the best’’.

On the merger of the aviation ministry with its transport counterpart, Meggison said the move became necessary due to past abuses and the exigency of the present situation in the country.

He said: “If you look at Nigeria as at today, with our economic situation, if the government is merging ministries, it is a welcome idea.

“I am sure government must have thought about it before rolling out its plans. So, it is maybe trying to maximise output with our limited resources.

“In the past, the head of parastatals were always in Abuja answering to the ministry of aviation but without that board now, hopefully the parastatals will have freer time to concentrate’’.

 

 

(NAN)