To David Mark, senate president, Bernard Aliu’s election as the president of the governing council of International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, is a source of pride to the Nigeria and a symbol that its aviation industry can compete with the best in the world. Mark described Aliu, who is the first Nigerian and African to lead ICAO after over 60 years of existence, as a core professional who has the technical knowledge to take the organ of the United Nations, UN, which oversees aviation safety globally, to greater heights. “His dedication and forthrightness has brought honour to Nigeria,” he said.
Aside from Nigeria’s involvement in the administration of the world body, the industry has witnessed significant transformation. For instance, while five of its airports across the country were remodelled and commissioned, the inaugural flight of Turkish Airlines from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano departed to Istanbul en-route Ndijamena with 105 passengers on board, debunking earlier insinuations that the federal government was frustrating efforts to bring in more foreign airlines to the airport.
With this development, Yakubu Dati, general manager, communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, confirmed that travellers, especially businessmen and women from the North, are no longer required to first travel to Lagos or Abuja before embarking on international trips to any part of the world. He states: “The aviation ministry also vigorously tackled the loss of government revenue in the sector which led to low level of staff morale and unprofessionalism in aviation agencies, due to delays in the payment of salaries and promotions. All revenue points in the agencies have now been automated, leading to increased revenue profiles.”