Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, says Digitisation and Innovation is the best way to achieve efficiency, safety in the African Air Transport System.
The minister said this at the opening of the 7th Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) Aviation Week organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Senator Sirika noted that Nigeria’s determination to host this meeting was borne out of the desire to support the growth of air transport in the region and ICAO’s efforts in facilitating the recovery process for the industry from the unprecedented impact of the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic.
He also commended the ICAO, particularly its regional offices in Dakar and Nairobi, as well as the coordinators of the AFI Plan, AFI SECFAL and the RASFALG-AFI, for sustaining these initiatives over the years.
“You will all agree with me that these programmes have contributed immensely to the development of safety security and facilitation in the region, and have assisted the region in complying with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as well as the reduction of the number of States with significant safety concerns (SSCs).”
“THIS event is very important not just to review the impact of these programmes vis-a-vis the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but also to devise new ways of implementing and achieving their objectives, by taking cognizance of digitisaation and innovation, which are now being highly embraced by the industry.
He added that this was the only way the industry could continue to make these initiatives relevant and sustainable, while strengthening safety, security in the aviation sector of the region.
Sirika also stated that a safe, secure and efficient air transport system was a natural impetus for socio-economic development of the region and a means to support trade and tourism as well as integration.
“Their ICAO’s leadership based on collaboration and coordination with Member States and stakeholders should be commended, as this has encouraged Member States to collaborate and pool resources in resolving challenges particularly in the area of enhancing safety in our Sub-region.
“One of the outcomes of such collaboration is the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa, which metamorphosed into the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO) in the West Africa region, , being hosted and substantially funded by Nigeria. This organization has continued to support the Member States in improving their safety oversight capabilities and human resource development.”
Human Resource Development Fund
The Nigerian Minister of Aviation further called for the revival of the Human Resource Development Fund to further enhance the industry.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to Member States here present and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and to call on the ICAO Secretary General to use his good office to revive the ICAO Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) programme, which has remained inactive since 2018. Nigeria generously contributed to this fund and equally benefited from the inaugural secondment of officers to ICAO under this programme. The exposure, experience and knowledge gained by the officers attest to the usefulness of the HRDF programme.”
Senator Sirika stressed that Nigeria will continue to support ICAO’s initiatives and collaborate with Member States and development partners on the development of air transport in Africa.
“In this vein, I wish to raise the need to address the issue of financing and modernisation of aviation infrastructure in line with the historic Declaration and Framework for Plan of Action for Aviation Infrastructure Development in Africa adopted at the ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) in Abuja in 2017.
“Today we are also going to witness the signing of the MoU between Singapore and AFCAC to support training programs for aviation in Africa. On behalf of the Government of Nigeria and other African member States, I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Singapore for their partnership with AFCAC and commitment to ensure development of international civil aviation, particularly in Africa.”
Present at the meeting were; ICAO Secretary General, Mr Juan Carlos Salazar, policy makers, aviation regulators and Professionals as well as aviation stakeholders.
Hauwa Abu
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