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Tag: Minister of State for Aviation

  • Air Peace resumes Abuja flights, commends FG

    Air Peace resumes Abuja flights, commends FG

    Air Peace has announced the resumption of all its flights into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja starting from Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

    A statement issued by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah on Monday commended air travellers for keeping faith with the airline and making a huge sacrifice to ensure repair of the bad portions of the runway of the Abuja airport.

    The airline also praised the Federal Government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika for ensuring speedy completion of the repair work on the runway of the facility.

    “We are pleased to announce resumption of all our flights into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with effect from Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

    “The Federal Government shut the facility to traffic on March 8 to enable a six-week repair of its runway and diverted all Abuja-bound flights to the Kaduna International Airport.

    “We considered the decision of the Federal Government to shut down the airport for quick repair of its runway in tandem with the high safety standards of our flight operations. At Air Peace, the safety our esteemed guests is our first rule of business. We do not compromise on that for any reason.

    “Although the decision to shut the facility to traffic came with huge costs, for us, nothing compares with safety. We are also aware that our numerous guests and the entire travelling public had to make a lot of sacrifice to enable the repair of the runway possible and wish to commend them for their understanding and cooperation.

    “We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Government, the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and the contractors for delivering on their promise to ensure completion of the repairs within schedule. The repair of the runway has further intensified our enthusiasm to deliver the best flight experience to our valued guests in a very safe atmosphere. Our Abuja schedules are live once again and we promise to give the best of air travel services as we resume our flight operations in the Federal Capital Territory,” Air Peace said.

     

     

  • Minister installs countdown clock at Abuja airport

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has installed a countdown clock at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to mount pressure on contractors to meet the six weeks deadline.

    This is in fulfillment of his promise to install the clock to remind contractors that the April 19 reopening date of the airport would not be extended.

    Sirika said the clock was a sign of seriousness and commitment of government to ensuring that the programme of work was followed by contractors, and remind to them that time was of essence.

    According to his twitter @hadisirika, the countdown clock installed at the gate of Abuja airport to remind and pressure contractors to deliver in 6 weeks.

    When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the airport on Wednesday, the clock was displayed, “13 days: 13 hours: 24 minutes: 40 seconds” to the reopening of the airport.

    One of the clocks was installed at the access gate (toll gate), the second one at the entry of the terminal and the third in the main hall.

    However, the contractor handling the runway has achieved an appreciable progress in the rehabilitation work while the electrical installations on the runway were being done.

    Sirika also announced on his twitter handle that the rehabilitation work had reached 75 per cent as at Tuesday night.

    “Happy to announce we are at 75% completion of Abuja airport rehabilitation. Programme of work is running as outlined,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government shut the Abuja airport on March 8 for six weeks, to enable Julius Berger to carry out much needed repair on the failed 3.6 km runway.

    The runway was said to have been in use for 35 years without any major rehabilitation and proper maintenance as against the original 20-year life span.

     

  • Abuja Airport runway repairs about 58% ready

    Abuja Airport runway repairs about 58% ready

    The Federal Government Thursday said the runway repairs ongoing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport is 57.5 percent completed.

    The FG also disclosed that escalators, lifts and lounge will be installed at Terminal building to ease the movement for the aged and the physically challenged.

    Also, since flight operations were moved to Kaduna International Airport, the federal government said it has witnessed about 1,119 domestic flights operation and 50 international flights.

    This was disclosed in Abuja Thursday after the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika and the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed inspected the extent of work done three weeks into the closure of the runway.

    Sirika said: “Without going deep into the reasons why the airport had to be closed; basically because of safety, the runway had completely failed at several sections, making it impossible to take the option of repairs at night and operating by day.

    “Here we are, we choose the decision in the interest of safety and we commenced. Work is going on smoothly and everything is in order.

    “From the programme of work, we were supposed to import all necessary materials that need to be imported and those that are local be sourced and at the work site, the contractor has mobilized fully and we have done now about 57.5 percent of the total work which is good and which shows that we are on time and that we are doing what we are supposed to do to ensure that the runway is opened come 19th of April.”

    On other works that is ongoing at the airport, he said: “we are on course and this runway will be opened on the 19th of April and it will not only be opened, the terminal building will wear a new look.

    “We are doing complete rehabilitation of Wing D at the airport. We will put escalators and lifts for departure at that terminal.

    “Also, we are opening up a lounge for the disable, challenged and elderly. This in response from our thoughts and the feedback we get including the feedback from Omojuwa who said he hopes it will be opened with lift for the elderly and the challenged.

    “It has been part of what we planned, so we are speaking in the same language with users of our service.

    “In the Terminal B, we are building a new lift also, constructing it to install and of course, toilets and other artillery services will be provided. So, the benefit of this closure means that we are having improved terminal.

    “A terminal that is more robust, take more passengers and create seamless flow, international and local passengers not mixing. They will go to different sides of the airport entirely and that is according to international standards, ICAO standards and recommended practices.

    “So, the airport will be more compliant if you ask me and more functional and efficient at the time it will be opened”, he said.

    Speaking on some materials that were imported for the purpose of the rehabilitation, he said: “I am being asked what is imported for this purpose; there is a new technology where glass grid is put in the process of constructing the runway to reinforce it, to give it extra strength and prevent cracks.

    “This is the first time any Nigerian runway is being treated with such material and that material is a 50 tonner. We had to fly it in to Nigeria to ensure that it comes in time for this job and you have seen samples of it.

    He added: “The runway work is going according to plan and you could also see that we are working simultaneously. Whilst the surface work is being finished, the installation of lightings are going on at the same time, channels are being cut for the laying of wires and also installation of lights at the same time.”

    On the statistics of passengers and flight operation in Kaduna since the closure of the Abuja airport runway, Sirika said: “We have had about 50 international flights out of Kaduna, we have moved about 4000 international passengers out of Kaduna and about 73,000 domestic passengers and about 1,119 aircraft movement for domestics.

    “There are inconveniences for people but I am sure Nigerians are in support in the interest of safety.”

    On whether there will be any delay if rain falls before the 23 of April, the date predicted by NiMet for rain to start in Abuja, the Minister said: “there won’t be disruption because we have factored that into our thoughts.

    “So long as we don’t get some surprises, even though science and technology is factual, and precise, something can go wrong and God can decide to do something different but so long it is normal rain that will set in and go away as we envisaged, it is not going to disrupt our operation but if it something beyond the usual that can tamper, of course it will tamper but all the same, I think with all of that, we will be able to reopen on the 19th.”

    On the delay of flight operation from Kaduna to London, Sirika said: “the operations that would have happened on Monday for us to fly direct to London was on course until that Monday.

    “We had couple of issues with the local carrier we wanted to partner with. The aircraft is available, the route is available, the capacity and ability of the local partner; but we have some issues which is being considered.

    “We were of the belief that everything was okay and that is why we projected Monday, however, as soon as that is sorted out, we will commence that flight.

    “Our intent is to make all of our airport, regardless to be able to access the world through them, so we are taking them seriously. So, I will update you as soon as I have an uodate”, he added.

    Also speaking, Lai Mohammed assured that the six weeks promised will not be extended.

    He said: “We believe it is befitting that we bring you here again since we are three weeks gone from the six weeks we promised to see the extent of the work that has been done.

    “This is to reiterate that the six weeks we promised the world is still valid and we don’t intend to give any excuses.”

     

  • 2017: NiMet predicts early rainfall, early cessation

    2017: NiMet predicts early rainfall, early cessation

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that Nigerians will experience shorter rainfall period in 2017.

    With the prediction, the agency also noted that there would be early cessation of rainfall in many parts of the country.

    According to the Agency, food production would be less than normal due to shorter growing season length over large parts of the country.

    This was disclosed in Abuja yesterday during the public presentation of the 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction which was unveiled by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

    The minister urged relevant stakeholders to take advantage of the prediction and plan ahead.

    Giving an overview of the prediction, the Director General of the Agency, Prof. Sani Mashi said: “2017 is expected to be a unique year as the country is likely to experience a wetter start and a drier end of the season

    “The annual rainfall amount predicted over the country in 2017 is expected to range from 400mm in the far north to about 3100mm in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta while the cessation dates of the rains in 2017 are predicted to start from around 4th October and reach the coastal states around 25th December.

    Continuing, NiMet boss said: “Rains might be heavy at the beginning but towards the end, the season will be drier which means that generally, rainfall will be below normal in some States including Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, northern Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Abia and some of the coastal areas.

    “In some States, we are predicting that the rainfall will be above normal. In and around states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Adamawa.

    “Aside these two categories, we are expecting that the rest of the state will experience normal rainfall.

    Also, the Agency predicted that Katsina State will experience earliest cessation of rain.

    “By October 4th, rain is expected to cease in Katsina state.”

    On the socio-economic implication of the prediction, Mashi said: “food production is expected to be less than normal because we are predicting that the growing season is going to be shorter over large parts of the country.

    “Since the rainfall will cease early, food production system has to be aligned properly so that crops that mature early can be planted”.

    On the health implication, he said the shorter than normal rainfall in some parts may lead to water stress and outbreak of diseases that are related to heat which can also affect livestock.

    Looking on the bright side of the prediction, the agency said: ” the above than normal rainfall that will be experienced in some States will lead to additional water in reservoirs and this can be a good sign as far as power generation is concerned because it means the potential for hydropower generation will be higher.”

  • Abuja Airport Closure: FG assures 24 hours security

    Abuja Airport Closure: FG assures 24 hours security

    The Federal Government has said that it will ensure that road; rail and air space between Abuja and Kaduna are water-tight during the closure and repairs of Abuja airport runway.

    Abuja airport runway will be shut for repairs between March 8 to April 18, 2017.

    During the six weeks closure, Kaduna airport will be used for passenger operation

    This was disclosed in Abuja Thursday by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika during the inauguration of the Security Sub-Committee on the Abuja airport runway closure.

    Highlighting the functions of the Committee, he said: “you will note that there is so much hype in our media recently over the proposed closure and repair works to be carried out on the Abuja runway and the perceived security threats on the roads, and rails to Kaduna.

    “You are to provide security at the Abuja and Kaduna airport including road, air and rail transportation, monitor traffic movement from Abuja to Kaduna airport, and provide security to passengers and cargo between Abuja to Kaduna.

    Continuing, he said: “You are required to ensure the safety of lives and property of passengers and other citizens during this period by enhancing your security activities.

    “I hope that this committee will live up to its bidding by making sure that with six weeks period of closure, security should be water-tight for the massive movement of passengers, cargo, luggage and other logistics to and from Kaduna”.

    Sirika also charged members of the Committee to be proactive on any security challenge.

    The committee will be Chaired by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Alkali Baba and has Director of Safety and Technical Policy, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State and Security Services, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration, FAAN Aviation Security and department of Air Transport management as members.

    Responding, the chairman of the Sub-Committee, AIG Baba assured: “there will be air surveillance, motorised patrol, and we will provide the rail tracks with necessary security from Abuja to Kaduna.

    On logistics needed to ensure the desired security, he said: “We require patrol vehicles and the vehicles will need to be fueled, serviced and we require dry ration for officers who will be on special duty and other things.

    On the present security situation in Southern Kaduna and on whether it will pose threat to passengers, Baba said: “we are assuring Nigerians that we will provide adequate security throughout the movement? We are going to provide security 24 hours throughout the period”.

  • FG begs foreign airlines over planned withdrawal of operation

    FG begs foreign airlines over planned withdrawal of operation

    The Federal Government has urged Emirate airline and other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria not to withdraw their services.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who made the plea in Abuja during a visit by West African Regional manager for Emirates Airlines, Manoj Gopi Nair noted that the challenges confronting the aviation sector would be resolved soon.

    Emirate however attributed its decision to scale down operation to poor access to Foreign Exchange for its operations, high cost of aviation fuel and the state of the Abuja Airport runway.

    The Minister however urged the airlines to consider the adverse effect the decision would have on their customers.

    According to a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Deputy Director of Press of the Ministry, James Odaudu: “the minister has appealed to the Management of Emirates and other airlines to reconsider their decisions to either suspend their operations or scale them down, considering the adverse effects on their long-standing costumers and the benefits they had reaped in the past.

    According to statement: “Government is not unaware of the issues that have created operational difficulties for both domestic and foreign airlines, such as Foreign Exchange, Aviation fuel and infrastructural deficiencies and the government has been up and doing to ensure the creation of an environment that is both enabling and profitable for all airlines to operate.

    On infrastructural deficiencies which include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, runway, the Minister said the government was already handling the issue, noting that the long-term solution was to concession the major airports.

    On the issue of aviation fuel which had earlier threatened to cripple the industry in the recent past, Sirika said the situation is almost normalized as a result of government intervention that has made it easier for importers to bring in the product.

    Earlier, Nair told the Minister that he was in his office to brief him on the decision of the Emirates Management to scale down its operations in Nigeria, with the suspension of operations from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Giving reason for the decision, Nair explained that it was because of its inability to make ends meet in view of the difficulties in accessing Foreign Exchange for its operations, high cost of aviation fuel and the state of the Abuja Airport runway.

    Reacting to the minister’s plea, he promised to relay the appeal and official commitment to address the issues to the Emirates Management for a possible reconsideration of the decision.

     

  • Arrest of judges, not wrong – Minister

    Arrest of judges, not wrong – Minister

    • Says Govt has right to search anybody, anywhere, anytime
    • FEC okays N700 million for Federal secretariats in six states

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said there was nothing wrong in stepping on judges’ toes in the fight against corruption.

    It would be recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) had last weekend stormed the houses of some judges, arrested them and recovered the huge sum of money in different denominations.

    But briefing State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Mohammadu Buhari, Mohammed said that there was nothing wrong with the method adopted by the DSS.

    Mohammed was accompanied by the Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

    While stressing that governors who have immunity are still open to investigation, he said that judges don’t even have immunity.

    He said: “What the government is concerned and passionate about is to fight corruption. In the process of fighting corruption, it is not unusual that you step on some very sensitive toes but the question to ask and I think these has been adequately answered by the Attorney General is that let’s remove emotion from facts.

    “One, do judges have immunity? The answer is no. Can judges be arrested? The answer is yes. Have judges that are serving been arrested in Nigeria? The answer is yes. Justice Okoli had been arrested and tried.

    “Now the next question to ask is what is the proper procedure for arresting anybody including judges? There must be properly executing of the search warrant. Was such presented? The answer again is yes. People have tried to muddle the facts about when do you search the person’s house, the truth of the matter is that under the new criminal justice law, you can search anybody, anywhere, anytime.

    “Again they have tried to muddle issues by trying to say that the NJC is the only authority that can attend complain and discipline, the answer once again is no,” he added.
    He pointed out that there is a difference between what is happening to the judges now and when a judge is accused of professional misconduct.

    “If you suspect anybody including Governors who have immunity they are still subject to investigations.” He said

    The government, he said, has the highest respect for the judiciary and does not intend to ridicule the judiciary.

    “We are not painting the whole of the judges with the same brush but we also have a duty to fight corruption at whatever level and in doing so, we will do so within the ambit of the law.” He said

    The Minister expressed displeasure that some people have started raising issues that are completely irrelevant to the matter.

    He said: “Some people are saying oh, the reason why they went to some particular judges house is because the President wants somebody from one part of the country to be Chief Justice of Nigeria. I think that is preposterous.

    “I want to assure you that this government has no intention to humiliate the judiciary and for those who are talking about separation of power, I think you are stretching it too far. I and members of the Executive, I can be invited by any arm of the government and I will go. So I think we should situate this thing in the right perspective.” He added

    He recalled when 22 out of 32 judges in Ghana, who were caught on tape by journalists asking for a bribe, were dismissed in 2015.

    He added: “Yes it’s true that what is happening today has probably never happened at this level before but frankly speaking and with all due respect we do not intend to humiliate any judge, we have no intention to humiliate the judiciary but believe me what we have done we have done within the ambits of the law.

    “I think the Federal Government is being very careful with handling of this particular issue, I want to state clearly that this government believes very much in separation of powers, this government has a lot of respect for the judiciary and for obvious reasons, not just because the constitution says so but I think probably this is one cabinet that has the highest number of lawyers as ministers.

    “As at the last count about eleven or twelve council members are lawyers and we have female lawyers also in the cabinet until death robbed us of late Ocholi we had five SANs in our cabinet and I think this is unique, therefore you can understand the kind of respect we have for the judiciary.”

    He also pointed out that the President himself, who sought to be President four times and had it thwarted three times, took his case to court on the three occasions.

    “He took his case to the judiciary, so I can say clearly that this administration has a lot of respect for the judiciary and I think I stand by what Mallam Garba Shehu said that please do not confuse the fight against corruption as a fight against judiciary,” he added

    Fashola disclosed that the FEC approved N700 million for the completion of abandoned Federal secretariats in Anambra, Bayelsa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Osun and Zamfara states.

    According to him, the fund for the completion of the secretariat projects, which were abandoned since 2012, were captured in the 2016 budget.

    He said when completed, the projects would provide office accommodation to Federal Government staff deployed to the affected states.

    “They are at various stages of completion. There have been changes in cost as a result of project designs, amendment, cases where original location and contract are changed and they have to be redesigned in such structure,’’ he said

    He said that the second memo approved by FEC from the ministry has to do with ongoing projects for the construction of the abandoned 10 megawatts Wind Farm power project in Katsina state.

    According to him, the wind farm project is part of government’s strategic plan for  renewable energy.

    He added that the project was a major component of the government’s road map towards achieving incremental power in the country.

    Fashola  noted that the contract cost of the power project escalated following the kidnapping of the contractor, who after being rescued abandoned the  project.

    Sirika said that the council approved an outline Business case for Industrial Port Development in Badagry, Lagos State.

    According to him, the Council also approved the relocation of flight training simulator from Lagos to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria in Kaduna state, for the training of pilots and engineers.

  • Aviation union to FG: Halt airports concession plan

    Aviation union to FG: Halt airports concession plan

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), has urged the Federal Government to immediately halt its plan to concession the four major airports in the country.

    The union made this known in an eight-point communique issued at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara.

    A copy of the communique which was signed by NUATE’s General Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye, was made available to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had on Sept. 6, told newsmen that there was no going back on the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports.

    Sirika had argued that the move would ensure that the airports were properly managed, while the government would still retain their ownership.

    Abioye’s communique faulted the plan to concession the four airports which it described as the cash-cow out of the 22 airports owned by the Federal Government.

    “The NEC in-session therefore calls for immediate stoppage of the concession of Nigerian airports to avoid industrial crisis that may arise as the government has failed to carry along stakeholders on this germane matter,” he said.

    He urged the aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to improve the welfare of their workers.

    Abioye’ also advised government to appoint a substantive managing director for NAMA and restructure its directorates in consonance with the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

    On the state of the economy, the communique advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to take more concrete steps toward alleviating poverty across the nation.

    “The NEC in-session sympathises with the government over the continued slide to recession of the nation’s economy but encourages it to remain focused in its quest for nation building.

    “This can be achieved by engaging more in social dialogue with critical stakeholders in the country and setting the machinery in motion to deploy experts into freeing our economy from the jaws of economic recession,” he added.

  • N12b is required to complete Lagos airport road- ICRC

    N12b is required to complete Lagos airport road- ICRC

    Mr Aminu Diko, the Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has said that N12 billion would be required to complete the Lagos Airport road rehabilitation project, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by ICRC Head of Communications, Mrs Deborah Okafor, said Diko made the call when he led a management team on a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

    Diko also said that a private investor had indicated interest in expanding the facility into eight-lane road with flyovers and that the procurement process was ongoing, after which construction would begin.

    He also called on the ministry to speed up work on the concession of Nigeria’s four busiest airports – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    Diko advised on the setting up of a Project Delivery Team and a Steering Committee to be chaired by the minister.

    “Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are complex and take time to consummate and so there is need to kick-start the process by quickly establishing the project team that would see to the engagement of a transaction adviser to manage the development and procurement stages.

    “This should go hand in hand with the convening of extensive stakeholders’ consultations to ensure the success of the project in view of resistance to the planned concessions by aviation unions.”

    Sirika, in his response, said that government did not have the required funds to revamp the country’s infrastructure, and so the ministry would continue to encourage private sector intervention in service provision in the aviation industry.

    He said that with a population of over 170 million and a 38 per cent return on investment, Nigeria ranked among the best locations to do business.

    Sirika said that the trend around the world was to use other people’s money for infrastructure development.

    He said there were plans by the ministry to promote the development of cargo airports to be co-located with existing ones and which would be maintained by the private sector.

    Sirika said that talks were ongoing with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, the concessionaire of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2, with a view to resolving all pending issues.

  • I had no quarrel with Amaechi – Sirika

    I had no quarrel with Amaechi – Sirika

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has dismissed the rumour that he quarreled with his colleague, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Sirika attributed the rumour to mischief makers and unidentified social media users.

    Reports on social media indicated that the ministers almost engaged in physical combat with his colleague which led to the removal of the Sirika’s portrait on walls at the airport and buildings of agencies under aviation sector.

    The minister however dismissed the report in Abuja on Thursday during a meeting with Journalists.

    According to him: “The social media said that I and the Minister are fighting but that is not true. The fact that there are no pictures of me at airports, offices and agencies under aviation is based on my personal choice.

    “I believe that my photo will not give Nigerians anything, rather, it is my actions that will. I don’t need my pictures on walls, they were there before but I ordered that they be removed. Photo will not give us good airports and runways, rather good governance and that is my challenge and target.

    “Having pictures everywhere as far as I am concerned is very trivial, unnecessary and it is not my style”, he said.

    On when his pictures should be hung on walls, the minister said: “my pictures should be put on walls when I have worked. Having my pictures on walls is not the major reason why I was appointed to serve, my dream is to change the industry for better and when that is done, then my pictures can be put everywhere”.

    Earlier, the minister also called for the merger of the ministry of Transportation, Aviation and Works.

    The minister said this while responding to issues raised by the National President of Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Mr. Benjamin Okeowo during a courtesy call.

    According to the minister: “for me, I think the merger ought to even go a step further than what it is today. The merger is between aviation and transportation but for me, I think the ministry of transportation should still carry Federal Ministry of Works and certain critical aspects.

    “Why works, because if you remove environment, lands and housing from works, what will remain is highways and highways like waterways and airways are all ways and they are under transportation.

    Sirika however craved the indulgence and understanding of the Union and other stakeholders adding that the Buhari’s administration will come up with something very positive that will be in the interest of the aviation sector.

    The Union lamented that the merger of aviation and transportation ministry has led to less efficiency in the aviation sector.

    Okeowo said: “government have come out with their policy on merger of aviation and transport but we must say that as stakeholders, the merger is not favouring us because there is so many delay we are seeing as a result of this merger, things are not taking proper shape and things are not done with speed as it is expected of the aviation industry.

    “Honestly, we thought policies are to ensure efficiency but we are not getting that efficiency. It is like the policy is expanding the bureaucracy and that for us is not good for the aviation industry”.

    He also noted that the Union is after a situation where things will be done with precision like it is done in other aviation industries around the world.