• Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Nigeria government assures support for aviation investors

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Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika on Thursday assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to providing support an enabling environment to those willing to invest in civil aviation.

The Minister stated this when he inspected aviation facilities at the Caverton Helicopters headquarters in Lagos. The facilities include Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, being established by the organisation, and a newly acquired Simulator for the training of pilots.

Sirika who was at the facility at the instance of Caverton Helicopters said “I am here to see the investment they are making in the aviation industry. As one of the primary objectives of government is providing full support to entrepreneurs NCC Targets 70% Broadband Penetration by 2025 in order to provide the needed services and employment for our people, and this is exactly what is happening here at Caverton Helicopters, I am willing to continue to support Caverton and other investors in civil aviation”.

The Minister emphasised that the Ministry under his leadership is reorienting civil aviation bodies who are regulators to shift focus of being police in the industry to being an enabler in the industry to create that partnership that will help to develop the industry and provide the service and employment for our people to kick start the economy and ginger it as well as to add to the GDP of the country.

Hadi Sirika added that these investments in Civil Aviation by Caverton Helicopters will certainly create more employment opportunities for the people and provide services that are needed in the country.

He further stated that, before now, the Aviation industry and services were dominated by foreigners, and that for Caverton Helicopters to embark on the massive investments, it is not only bridging the gap but creating a space for Nigeria to participate.

“I will like to thank the Chairman of Caverton Helicopters for their foresight and decision to participate in the civil aviation industry, they have done so far very well. For the FAAN which in its wisdom provided the parcel of the land, I think they have done well, we are also proud of them as this will add to their revenue and activities within the airport”.

The Minister also inspected the Taxiway B under construction at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and met with the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) during which he commended the commitment and passion of the staff to duty during the lockdown and Airport reopening occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic.

He reiterated that all steps being taken to develop the aviation industry are all in the overall interest of the nation.

The Caverton Group Chairman Chief Aderemi Makanjuola appreciated the Minister for his kind words as well as advise for all that needed to get things right, adding that with the guidance of the Agencies under the Ministry, Caverton has so far got it right and are proud of that.

He said the invitation to the Minister to visit the facility was premised on his involvement from the beginning, and to reassure him of Caverton’s commitment to partnering with the ministry to achieve its developmental objectives.

The Managing Director the Caverton Helicopters, Rotimi Makanjuola said apart from ensuring employment opportunity to the Nigerians, the facility will also ensure capacity development and stop capital flight. “We know other industry participants spend millions of dollars flying out their pilots for capacity training in various simulators all around the world”.

He explained that Caverton has an annual budget of over $3 million spent for flying pilots to various facilities in Dubai, the USA, Europe for training.

He also said there were no many Helicopter training facilities around the world, so for Nigeria in Africa to have one will definitely going to bring in a lot of capital inflow to the country.