Nigeria’s quest for $1 trillion economy by 2030 seems to gaining momentum, as the aviation sector is set to play a significant role for its achievement.
This is being pursued with the integration of the $2 billion catering services for foreign outward bound flights, which had hitherto been denied local participation.
Aviation minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, said on Sunday that from April 2024, all out bound foreign flights must source their catering services from Nigerians to increase local content and boost the sector’s contributions to the gross domestic product GDP).
“This is standard practice and we must ensure everyone play by the rule. That we have BASA agreement does not guarantee that you can just fly in as you like; the country has to approve how the flights are conducted, and it is my responsibility to do that. I have already directed all the foreign airlines that from March, when their current flight approvals expire, all their out-bound catering services must be provided by local businesses, which are as good as any can be. There will be no flight approval for any airline without agreement on catering services with Nigerians, because outbound flights are almost 95 percent Nigerians, who are denied their choice of food on the flights they have paid for,” Keyamo.
The minister stressed that the target of $1trillion economy is the main agenda of this administration, and any minister who does not tap into it has no relevance. “Let me say this, the $1trillion economy target is not negotiable, and everyone must key into it. We, in aviation, are doing everything to see how we make our contribution by exploiting available opportunities and resource to advance the objective,”.
Keyamo lamented the lack of adequate investment in the aviation sector, noting that since their construction very little expansion and modernizing work had be done on the airports, which make them look less attractive compared with other African countries.
“Look, we accept the fact that our airports are not the best around us, but it is a factor of investment. We built and went to sleep while others were moving forward. We can’t wake up one day and everything will change; it requires planning and then investment. Given the state of the economy, we can’t get all the money we need to solve the problems. But I can assure you that Mr. President is fully committed to improving things; finding the money is a slow process but we are working at it,” he said.
Keyamo, who spoke on Politics Today on Channels television, noted that government cannot adequately fund the sector, and there is long term plan of concessions for the airports to private operators, who can bring in the much needed funding to take the infrastructure and services beyond the present levels to what obtains elsewhere, especially in Africa. “Nigeria is well positioned to be the aviation hub in Africa – a large population, huge market, central location. We need to concession to attract more capital for the sector; we don’t want cosmetic treatment, renovations and repainting building, but real development of modern infrastructure and service. This is where we are going, and we are determined to pursue the goal”.
On the quality of service delivery across the airports, especially the main gateways, he said that Airport Marshalls are being appointed for each airport to be an second level supervision of operations. “These Marshalls are public spirited people from the states where these airports are located, who will provide extra oversight of the airports for us. Public servants have their orientation and we don’t want to depend totally on them, because they actually don’t care what happens, after all it is the minister who takes the blame,” he said.
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