Nigeria Needs $1 Billion for Aviation Safety

Nigeria requires over $1 billion to fully execute its aviation safety program, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said on Monday.

NCAA director-general Harold Demuren said this at the opening of a three-day workshop on global aviation safety in Abuja.

He said for the sector to be raised to the expected standard, over $1 billion would be required to upgrade the facility upgrade, infrastructure development and manpower acquisition.

“Today, Trinidad and Tobago is putting $5 billion on aviation infrastructure development, Pakistan is voting $10 billion on aviation projects, while Turkey has also put down $40 billion on a similar endeavour,” he said.

“If you can give us $1 billion, it will be good in Nigeria”, he added.

He said the global accident rate in the aviation sector is about 1.5% while that of African region is about 10.2%

He said the workshop was meant to engage participants in genuine dialogue that would lead to the development of a durable and effective aviation safety implementation plan for Africa.

Air Transportation Minister Felix Hyat said the federal government would fulfill its obligations as required by the International Civil Aviation Organization by actualizing its aviation safety dreams and visions.

William Voss, the president of Flight Safety Foundation, a United States based organization, commended Nigeria on the establishment of various regulatory agencies in the aviation industry.

However, he advised that for needed efficiency to be achieved the government should avoid any form of undue interference in the affairs of the bodies.

Source African Press Agency

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