The African air transport market, has created an estimated $72. 5 billion gross domestic product (GDP), even as it has generated a total of seven million jobs.
Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who made the disclosure Tuesday, at the Aviation Infrastructure for Africa Gap Analysis Workshop in Abuja, said Africa remained in if the fastest growing air transport markets in the world.
Sirika, however, lamented what he referred to as inadequate airport capacity, among other infrastructure deficit.
“Africa is one of the fastest growing air transport markets in the world; this is due to an emerging industrial sector and increasing population. These amongst many other reasons created almost Seven Million jobs and 72.5 billion Dollars GDP.
“However, in terms of infrastructure requirements to support future capacity; Aviation in Africa and other regions faces some serious constraints due to inadequate airport capacity, and air traffic management technologies and a dearth of aviation personnel. Africa aviation requires significant upgrade and expansion to meet the requirements of the projected growth but has to overcome the problem of insufficient access to financial resources for aviation development
and modernization”, he said.
The minister expressed the hope that workshop will serve as a platform for an enduring aviation master plan for state and region at large.
Sirika said: “Consequently, as part of the 2019 AFI Plan Work Programme, this workshop is to provide basis for the formulation of aviation infrastructure programmes and Master Plans for Africa at State and regional levels.
“It follows the conduct of a preliminary survey on aviation infrastructure in Africa covering Airports, Air Navigation. Services and Aircraft fleet capacity and equipage.”
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), has passenger traffic in the region, may witness an annual growth rate of 4. 3 and 2. 8 per cent respectively, through 2035.
The President of ICAO, Bernard Aliu, who spoke during the workshop, informed that Africa accounted for 4 per cent of the global air transport services.
“According to ICAO current global figure for 2018, stands at 4.1billion passengers transported on 38 million route and may double in the next 15years.
“With the potential of the growth and essentially how much it should be argument through the African Union initiative towards the development of the Single Africa Air transport market then it is apparent that growth in traffic must be accompanied by commensurate investment and commitment to new and modernise airport and air navigation infrastructure.
“It is therefore urgent for Africa to address it’s aviation infrastructure gaps given current awareness of how air connectivity has become such a unique and indispensable catalyst for socio-economic growth on the continent”, Aliu said.
This was as he further disclosed that the launch of the AU single market in 2018, showed regional integration, and also that the aviation sector had socio-economic benefits that are real and sustainable.
His words: “In addition to continue investment and development of Aviation Infrastructure, capacity and technology, rapidly expanding air traffic and enhanced air connectivity can only be sustained through a regulatory framework that is ICAO compliant and harmonised
with other states and regions.
“ICAO top priority is to ensure that increasing air transport operation in support of local Economic growth is managed, safely, securely and efficiently with due respect to sector profit and environmental commitment.”
“This require effective implementation of ICAO aviation global standards and policies, plans and programmes by all African states, and in other to guide and align your progress to ICAO aviation global plan for safety, security and air navigation capacity and efficiency are available to serve your need.”
He continued: “Mobilising long term financial requirements has become more difficult and represent great challenge to many states facing strains in their public finances and high cost of borrowing which confront many developing countries.”
“To address the existing and future financing challenges facing aviation infrastructure development and capacity building, ICAO had organised several forum focusing on the issue.”
Stella Enenche, Abuja
