Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday said that the establishment of a national carrier, the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the introduction of Aviation Development Fund to fund the remodelling of airports across the country and sustain existing structures cannot be over-emphasised.

He said this in his office during the formal handing over to him by the erstwhile Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello.

Senator Sirika said that he would ensure that every fund meant for projects in the aviation sector would be judiciously and appropriately used to bring the desired change to the sector. He emphasised the need for the training and re-training of staff of the sector to enhance their proficiency and cover for possible errors.

“I know 95% of you here; some are my colleagues, friends and even my seniors in the sector. Please do not leverage on the relationship, do your work, and be the boss, take your work for granted, be the boss,” the minister of state said.

Hajiya Binta Bello, while handing over the affairs of the ministry to Senator Sirika, said the ministry during her six months in office delivered effectively on the core mandate of ensuring safety, security and comfort of air travellers. She said some of the challenges of the aviation sector and constraints faced by the ministry include dwindling Federal Government appropriation for capital projects, repayment of DMO/Chinese EXIM Bank loans, lack of a national carrier, high rate of equipment/instruments obsolesce and degradation, high third party indebtedness, and slow pace of infrastructural development.

The outgoing permanent secretary said to further improve service delivery in the

aviation sector and enhance the nation’s GDP, the following matters require urgent decision/action: Review of enabling laws of the agencies; Establishment of a national carrier; Construction of second Abuja Airport Runway; Completion of on-going airport remodelling projects and air navigation infrastructure; Introduction of Aviation Development Fund; Settlement of debts to agencies; and Inclusion of aviation sector as a priority programme of Government in the 2016 Budget and the Medium Term Successor Plan (2016-2020).

On the vexed issue of the second Runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the outgoing permanent secretary asserted that there was no subsisting contract for the project, and that only the design consultancy has been advertised.

Binta Bello assured the minister of leaving behind a crop of competent and highly committed civil servants and professionals to work with. She urged the staff to extend their cooperation and support to the minister as he discharges his duty and responsibilities towards the growth of the aviation sector.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, while welcoming the Minister of State, Aviation, pledged the support and loyalty of the staff to him. He admonished the staff to support the minister in his duty to achieve the Buhari administration focus of change as fast as possible. Sabiu Zakari, while wishing the outgoing secretary, Hajiya Binta Bello success in her new office promised that all the good work started by the outgoing permanent secretary will continue and be sustained.

•Photo shows Senator Sirika.

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