Aviation workers in the country on Thursday said that the former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, transformed the industry while her tenure lasted.
Mr Benjamin Okwewu, President of the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, said the major achievement of the former minister was the remodelling of 22 airports across the country.
Okwewe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that transforming the airports, which the remodelling projects were part of, was one major challenge which Oduah’s predecessors could not handle.
”Basically, she restricted herself to remodelling the airports. She changed the concept of rehabilitating the airports to remodelling them.
“She also achieved the review of the 2006 Civil Aviation Act, which was passed by the National Assembly, and that is the first aviation legislation in the industry,” he said.
Okwewu said that it was under the former minister that some aspects of the operations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were streamlined, especially the removal of Economic Regulatory Agency from the Safety Regulatory Unit.
He, however, suggested that anyone who would succeed the former minister should focus on safety and security of passengers at the airports, and appealed that the person should be a professional in the industry.
“Aviation is a global environment; it is regulated by recommended standard and best practice, regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
” It is expected that when a new minister is appointed, he or she should build on the achievements recorded by Oduah,” he said.
Similarly, a passenger, who uses the airport regularly, Mr Albinus Uchegbulam, commended Oduah for the ongoing development of infrastructure in airports around the country.
Uchegbulam said that the former minister demonstrated that with focus and determination, things could change and standards could be attained in the aviation industry.
He, however, said that not much was achieved in capacity building of local airlines during her tenure and hoped that her successor would address this
“Today, there are only few domestic airlines operating in the industry and their economic strength cannot be guarantee,” he said.