Nigerian Aviation Industry Has Created 60,000 Jobs so Far

Nigeria’s aviation sector generated more than 60,000 jobs in the last 12 months, according to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku.

The Nigerian Aviation sector went under scrutiny since it experienced its last plane crash on the 3rd of december this year, which claimed the lives of about 153 crew and passengers. There has been significant improvement in the installation of highest safety standard equipment comparable to those available in any developed countries in the world and because of the automation of the airports, there would be reduction in flight times from 2013.

Meanwhile Minister of Aviation. Princess Stella Oduah has proposed the expansion of six new international airports in 2013 while the Murtala International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja would be turned to regional hub of aviation in West Africa.

The Minister of Information Dr Labaran Maku said the plan to have a national carrier that would be private sector driven was on-going and special cargo terminals would be constructed in some States to promote the agriculture sector.

"The state of our airports has received uplift in the last one year particularly with the state of aviation safety equipment that has been installed to ensure the highest safety standards as compared to any other place in the world.”

He also added, "Travelling  by air anywhere in Nigeria, you have radar coverage, a plane entering Nigerian airspace from any angle day or night would be seen and there would be instantaneous appearance on radar as well as communication between the various airport facilities and the pilot.

"Some of the facilities that are manual before such as reading weather by pilot is now automated so there is no reason for any pilot to take off without knowing the weather condition throughout his own route, so if any pilot took off and return to base because of bad weather, that pilot should be sanctioned, it only means the pilot disregarded weather advise given before takeoff.

"Because of the automation of some of these facilities, by next year, flight time would reduce between the various airports

"She also talked about plans to expand airports in Lagos, Nnnamdi Azikiwe airports while there would be about 20 international hotels that would be built around the various international airports in the country to create a hub of services within the airport that will almost make them look like modern cities."

On the plan to have a national carrier, the minister said it was going on smoothly and also unveiled fresh initiative to ensure the national carrier would be private sector driven to eliminate inefficiency associated with government involvement