Nigeria To Contribute N120m
To Boost African Aviation
Nigeria
will contribute N120m towards the realisation of the new
Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety
in Africa.
The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr.
Harold Demuren, disclosed this in Abuja, the nation’s capital,
at an air transport symposium.
The Plan was adopted in Banjul, Gambia in 2007, and is believed
to be the most comprehensive strategy for improving aviation
safety in Africa.
It was endorsed by 40 African countries and world aviation
stakeholders at the 36th International Civil Aviation
Organisation regional meeting in Banjul on September 17, 2007.
“Closing The Gap”
According to Demuren, Africa has only about two per cent of the
global aviation business and needs to put in more money to close
the yawning gap between the region and the rest of the world.
He said, “Customers have a right to be concerned about their
safety and security as we embrace liberalisation and
deregulation. As we continue to liberalise the industry, safety
is not de-regulated, instead, higher safety standards and more
stringent regulatory requirements are imposed.”
To show its support to the AFI Plan, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, through its Permanent Representative to ICAO, Saud
Hashem, donated $250,000.
Hashem said Africa had a huge potential in the global aviation
market and advised that the region should tap into its regional
power by cooperating to improve on aviation facilities that were
driving the sector in other parts of the world.
NP/MICHAEL
