The
Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, says the Federal
Government will improve the economic and operational viability of the
nation’s international airports to encourage the international airlines.
This is contained
in a statement by Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public
Affairs, Office of the Minister of State, Aviation, Ministry of
Transportation, in Abuja on Sunday.
Sirika made the promises while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil in his office.
He promised that
government would give consideration to requests by serious foreign
airlines for increased flight frequencies as long as the nation’s
interests were not compromised.
According to him,
the nation’s relationship with foreign airlines will be based strictly
on the Bilateral Air Services Agreements with the Airline’s home
governments.
He informed the
ambassador of government’s determination to revamp the aviation sector
through the concessioning of its airports, beginning with "the big four"
in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
``The concession, he said, was to address issues of infrastructure, and ensure world class maintenance.
He commended the
cordial relationship that exists between Nigeria and Turkey, and
condemned the recent coup attempt in Turkey, describing it as
undesirable and anti-development.
The Turkish
Ambassador told the minister that he was in the ministry to express his
country’s gratitude for the excellent relationship between the two
countries in aviation sector.
Cakil on behalf
Turkish Airlines requested for more frequencies in airline’s operations
in Nigeria considering its population and air traffic volume.
He also commended
the Nigerian government for the show of support for his country during
its trying periods, especially the recent attempt by subversive elements
to derail the course of democratic governance.
In another
development, the has promised to do whatever it takes to make domestic
airlines more competitive with their foreign counterparts in the airlift
of Nigerian Christian pilgrims.
Sirika made the
promise when he reacted to a request by the Executive Secretary of the
Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Dr Tor Uja, during a courtesy
visit.
He said "the
primary purpose of the ministry is to promote the development of the
sector and supporting local airlines to operate in the best possible
environment."
He also promised
to objectively look into the request for reduction of charges at the
airport with a view to seeing how those charges could be adjusted to
assist pilgrimage operations.
According to him, Nigeria is blessed to be one of the leading religious countries in the world.
He promised to visit the NCPC to see how his ministry could complement its operations.
Earlier, Uja
called on the Federal Government to give adequate support to the local
airlines to enable it compete with its foreign counterparts in the
airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims.
Uja said that the
situation where foreign airlines account for almost 100 per cent of
pilgrimage operations did not portray the nation well.
"The foreign
airlines determine the pricing and operational modalities and we are
helpless because the local airlines are not strong enough to compete
with them," he said.
The executive
secretary also pleaded with the minister to look at how it could address
the challenges of high charges that had skyrocketed the overall cost of
performing the pilgrimage.
He suggested a
reduction of those charge by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies by at least 50 per
cent.
Uja commended the
minister for his commitment to developing the nation’s aviation
industry and urged him to be the first Minister of Aviation to visit the
commission to see how it operates. (NAN)
SOURCE DAILYTRUST
