What Present, Future Nigeria’s Aviation Ministers Can Do To Better The Industry, By Chiedu
Mr. Albinus Chiedu, Author of the book, NIGERIA’S AVIATION SECTOR: PEOPLE, BEHAVIOURS BEHIND THE PERFORMANCES, which was officially presented to the public at Golfview Hotels, Lagos on July 4, 2024, has on page 166 of the book recommended certain actions he believes that if taken by present and future Ministers in charge of Aviation, would move the country’s aviation sector to where it ought to be in the global aviation map.
SOME INDUSTRY ASSIGNMENTS FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE AVIATION MINISTERS
1. Develop and commence execution of a short, medium and long term development plan for Nigeria’s aviation industry
2. Develop a comprehensive masterplan for all airports in Nigeria
3. Develop and execute a progressive catch-up process and phased programme for technological advancements in airports infrastructure and in air navigation facilities to meet modern global standards and expectations
4. Develop and legalize through legislation process or amendment, a succession plan for safety and security management personnel of Nigeria’s aviation agencies.
5. Develop a programme for periodic production of young critical aviation professionals, involving both the public and private sector players. Such professionals are Air Traffic Controllers, Aircraft Engineers, young pilots, etc.
6. Provide a conducive environment for private sector investment and operations
7. Encourage the emergence, growth and development of strong domestic airlines that could grow into flag carriers
8. Ensure a review of all Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and other countries and ensure each is skewed and possibly implemented in a manner that favours Nigeria and Nigerians
9. Ensure the signing into law of the Fly Nigeria Act as part of tools for encouraging growth of Nigerian airlines
10. Ensure the protection of government’s local content policy in different facets of the aviation industry, including in-flight catering, staff recruitment, etc
11. Pursue vigorously, the establishment of public and private MRO facilities in Nigeria and modernization of aircraft fuelling methods across Nigeria’s airports with a view to reducing airlines operating costs and making Nigeria an MRO hub in West Africa
12. Ensure that the NCAA lives up to its regulatory oversight responsibilities while exercising its full autonomy as provided for by law and enjoys full independence from political interferences in industry operations.
13. Do everything possible to erase the perception of Nigeria as a HIGH RISK country as regards aviation insurance, aircraft leasing, etc.
14. Ensure protection of both corporate and individual consumers of aviation services, including the physically challenged by driving the various relevant agencies to live up to their responsibilities
15. Educate other politicians including the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces and law makers, on the peculiarity of the aviation industry and why they must comply with international standards and conventions in appointment of industry leaders and in the use of aviation services
16. Avoid ulterior motive or selfish interest in origination or execution of initiatives, policies and projects in the industry
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A WELCOME SPEECH BY MR. ALBINUS CHIEDU, AUTHOR, NIGERIA’S AVIATION SECTOR: PEOPLE, BEHAVIOURS BEHIND THE PERFORMANCES, PRESENTED ON THIS THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024 AT THE BOOK LAUNCH HELD AT GOLFVIEW HOTEL, GRA, IKEJA
The Honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN)
Distinguished Chairman and Chief Launcher
Chief Executives of Aviation Agencies and organizations
Distinguished colleagues and members of LAAC
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this public presentation of my book, NIGERIA’S AVIATION SECTOR: PEOPLE, BEHAVIOURS BEHIND THE PERFORMANCES.
First, I wish to express my profound gratitude to you for responding to the invitation to a book launch at a time like this in our sphere of civilization.
Ladies and gentlemen! Since the year 2000 when I came into Nigeria’s aviation industry, I have observed with keen interest, positive and negative behaviours on the part of both leadership and followership in the industry. A combination of good behaviours and bad behaviours by people in the sector in the last 24 years, have combined to bring the industry where it is today.
It is because of human behaviour that I can categorically say that judging the performances of the industry in consideration of expectations or aspirations depends largely on the perspective of whoever is the judge. Although, I admit the fact that I may be too small to claim to know so much about the industry that has so many elders and experts, you would agree with me that it takes a dispassionate mind to actually arrive at an objective declaration of exactly “what ar guan,” as our Jamaicans brothers would say.
There is no perfect endeavour in any sphere of life, including my turf, journalism and book publishing. Although there is also no perfect aviation industry anywhere in the world, there are a few of many examples of relative successes here and there.
According to AVIATION MONITOR’S EDITORIAL of July 1, 2024, Ethiopian Aviation University on June 15, 2024, graduated close to 800 aviation professionals including international trainees from eight African countries and one from Asia, after graduating over 1,550 aviation professionals drawn from seven African countries 10 months earlier (August 5, 2023). I guess you all know also the success story of Ethiopian Airlines. Professionals have also been produced in their hundreds repeatedly by the institution over the years.
Today, Nigeria is armed with two key flying schools in Zaria and Ilorin. An Aviation University is already running in Abuja while several Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs) produce Cabin attendants, Flight Dispatchers and other professionals.
My intention here is not comparism but a proposal. Working with a very deliberate, coordinated well thought out vision on human capital development, Nigeria can at least, be seen to be profitably approaching the leadership position it is supposed to occupy in terms of mass production of aviation professionals or employees for use and for sale to the rest of the world. Nigeria can do it. Yes! We can!,
It is people that run Ethiopia’s aviation industry in Africa. It is human beings that run the British, American and Asian air transport sectors. In those climes, systems don’t run themselves. It is the behaviours of people in administration and management, operations, finance and other technical segments that helped countries that have recorded significant successes, to achieve them.
Human behaviour is critical in success and safety and human factor as you know, has been blamed by most air accident investigation reports for such occurrences.
Ladies and gentlemen! Internationally, civil aviation operation by nature, possesses numerous opportunities for prevention of systems failure and failure of the industry’s operation itself. This is part of why provisions were made for back-ups.
For an airport for instance, there is an alternate airport. For a pilot on commercial scheduled operation, there is a co-pilot. For a radar, there is a back-up radar, and so on. As long as the humans that operate and manage the systems, the processes and the industry itself do not violate required principles, rules and regulations as well as procedures, success is inevitable.
I have said all these to say that the status of Nigeria’s aviation industry today in terms of performance is a product of human behaviour. Inferences from the Holy Bible implies that no human being on earth will go to hell fire for committing sins that have been committed. The sinner is only going to be condemned perpetually at the end, for refusing to believe and accept the free gift of salvation and grace opportunity offered by Jesus Christ the son of God through death sacrifice in order to enjoy victory over sin.
In the same vein, the errors that have been recorded in the past by aviation stakeholders either as mistakes or deliberate acts, are forgivable. This forgiveness will however, be useful and beneficial only if the current individual and corporate players in the sector and those that would join the sector tomorrow, learn from the past absurdities and do things differently.
Please, permit me to note that a lot of people that have passed through or functioned as players in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the years, deserve accolades for their progressive, patriotic and remarkable behaviours, as well as their contributions to the industry’s growth and development. Who are they? This, you will confirm when you read my book.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen! I believe strongly that Nigeria’s air transport industry can gain its rightful place in the global aviation market. This book is my little contribution to accessing the better future that I see for Nigeria’s aviation industry. Therefore, I urge our policy decision makers and every stakeholder to kindly read the book, make further researches and expand on the issues therein in the interest of the future.
Once again, I say welcome!
Thank you for listening. God bless you.
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE BOOK LAUNCH
