By Chinedu Eze
It has been projected that in the next 30 years Nigerian airports would be processing about 200 million passengers annually.
Currently Nigeria processes about 15 million passengers annually, with 20 active airports, 554 licensed pilots, 913 licensed engineers and 1,700 cabin personnel but with population growth that is estimated to rise to 280 within the period under projection, which would trigger enormous economic development and expansion, it is believed that the number of airports would more than double and more people would have the resources to travel by air both on domestic and international routes.
The Vice-President, Revenue Management of Porter Airlines, Canada, Chris Amenechi made this known in a presentation in Lagos recently and said that presently about 22 international airlines operate into the country and that Nigeria has Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with 78 countries.
“The Nigerian aviation industry has significant commercial and infrastructure upside. It has the potential to drive significant export and income through visionary leadership utilising natural talent. Unfortunately, the leadership over the last 30 years has not been consistent or visionary enough. The previous missteps has left it moribund for the most part so it is not a surprise Nigeria is lagging behind its global peers,” Amenechi said.
He noted that the industry spans the breadth of airlines, airports, intermodal transport infrastructure, maintenance and overhaul, hospitality, tourism, technology, manufacturing, distribution, airway infrastructure, cargo/logistics, defense and others.
Amenechi said if the initial development tempo in the aviation industry after independence was followed till now, the sector would have been contributing significantly to the economic development of the country and would have been a dependable source of revenue to the present government, adding that by 2045 the key indices in the aviation industry would have multiplied.
“The aviation industry can be one of the triggers to drive the nation’s economy by this and subsequent administrations. Aviation 2045 is focused on six pillars underpinned with a $30billion fund to deliver a world class industry and fuel the nation’s economic growth.
“The ultimate objective is to deliver the following: 200 plus million passengers a year in air transport complex; world class airports that are intermodal hubs; Nigeria as a global player in the military/civil aviation; robust general and recreational aviation industry and Nigeria as a preferred aviation investment destination,” he said, adding that Nigeria would be rated as a top 10 source of world class aviation talent; top 10 global aviation gateway and top 10 globally safe aviation market by the said period.
He said Nigeria could be a champion of ‘smart open skies’ policy, remarking that Nigerian aviation requires the appropriate leadership like what was experienced in the mobile communications industry after the advent of democracy in the country, remarking that the requisites for effective leadership in the aviation industry include astute technocrats, ambitious investors, and pragmatic regulators; those that would deliver a long term strategic framework to develop this industry and also instill innovation, institutional foundations, standards, and relevant technology.
Amenechi said Nigeria should have the technocrats who would build the continent’s best training and development institutions and grow the professional talent base; establish regulations that are delivered safety, encourage economic growth, and industry diversification; establish regulations that are patriotic to Nigerian customers, employees, and investors; embrace world leading bilateral/multilateral regimes that open Nigeria to “real investors” and ensure that Nigerian entities can play globally in a favourable position.
Such technocrats would also enforce the enabling laws that instill discipline in delivering the safest aviation industry globally and ensure the nation is carried along every step of the way.
