Nigeria Needs Deliberate Policies To Drive Aviation Industry Development, Says ASRTI

President of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Nigeria’s foremost aviation NGO, Air Cdr Ademola Onitiju (Rtd) says Nigeria requires deliberate progressive policies to grow and develop its aviation industry.

Speaking during the panel session of Aviation Metric Colloquium 2025 held at the launch of a book titled “100 Years Of Civil Aviation In Nigeria, History, Issues & Prospects’ by Wole Shadare, Onitiju said after 100 years of the industry’s existence, policies that would encourage safety and economic development of the industry should emerge.

He announced that the event was significant because it tallies with ASRTI’s programme to be hosted before November 2025 in collaboration with the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), who is to function as arrowhead of the event.

“So, for us , in the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, this beautiful event put together by the veteran aviation journalist is a tasty appetizer to the main dish to be served and of which SHADARE is part and parcel,” he said.

Theme of the colloquium was ‘Issues in the growth and development of aviation in Nigeria: A critical perspective.’ In his contribution on the panel, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (Rtd) said civil aviation is a national asset that requires protection, adding that without adequate funding of airports, aviation security cannot be guaranteed.

He frowned at a situation where passenger traffic in Nigeria has not increased since 2019. Yet, new airlines have been granted permission to operate since then, rather than making efforts to ensure that the existing ones are strengthened with policies that would help them meet demands of available passengers.

The Vice President (2) of ASRTI, Dr. Alex Nwuba said it is wrong to prioritize revenue generation over passenger satisfaction, calling for solutions to the challenges of high air fares, forex and other issues confronting airlines in Nigeria.

In his input, the Managing Director of Belujane Konzult Limited, Mr. Chris Aligbe emphasized that airlines cannot do well if airports are not doing well and that no sane investor would invest in an airport that is not viable. He applauded government’s on-going efforts to concession airports in the country to make them more profitable.

Prof. Anthony Kila, the book’s reviewer said he believes that any airport can be functional and that it is possible to build airport anywhere in the world and make it functional. He reiterated his earlier proposal for establishment of an aviation development bank to ensure adequate funding of the industry.

The Colloquium Panel Session was moderated by Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, an Air Transport Professional and former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The book launch and colloquium was held at Golfview Hotels & Suits, Ikeja, Lagos.

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