By Richard Elesho
The International World Aviation Forum-3 currently taking place in Abuja, has generated strong pledges of support for Nigeria’s aviation industry. Among the organizations that indicated such support were the African Development Bank AFDB and the African Union Commission AUC.
The President of the AFDB group Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and Chairperson of the AUC, Mr. Mousse Mahamat in separate remarks on Tuesday, reiterated commitment of the groups to support the Nigerian Government’s efforts to revitalise the aviation sector.
The AfDB president commended the efforts being made by Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Srika to reform the nation’s aviation sector noting that if the nation’s aviation sector improved, Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business would also improve. He therefore urged the government to build on its already remarkable achievements in the sector.
According to him, AfDB strongly supports Nigeria and has confidence in the ability of the country to deliver on its policy commitments. “As you know, we provided 600 million dollars to support the government to address its budget deficit challenges.
“We are also ready to continue to fully support the government as it embarks on efforts to diversify the economy and raise the revenue profiles and productivity of the non-oil sectors.
Adesina said the bank’s support would focus on national airline development, aviation leasing companies, maintenance, repairs and overhaul facilities, development of an aero polis, and cargo terminals for agricultural produce for exports.
.The technocrat disclosed that Africa’s aviation industry had contributed 73 billion dollars to the continent’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employed about seven million people, an average 130,000 people per country in Africa. He was however unhappy that the cost of aviation services on the continent has remained extremely high.
According to him, it costs 128 dollars to fly between London and Rome, but 597 dollars to fly between Abidjan and Niamey, a shorter distance and just to go from Johannesburg in South Africa, to next door neighbour Lilongwe in Malawi, the cost is 406 dollars.
“Again it also costs more to travel a much shorter distance than from London to Rome. If you require another example of this serious imbalance, consider for a moment that taxes paid for a Lagos to Kinshasa.
“It amounts to 397 per cent which is 300 per cent higher than the total air travel costs between London and Rome.
“You can begin to understand why this is a challenge and a burden for the passenger, for businesses, and ultimately the growth and development of the aviation sector.
The President of ICAO, Dr Bernard Aliu said the organisation was committed to its No Country Left Behind Initiative to ensure that all member-states complied with international standard and best practices.
Aliu said that ICAO was also determined to enhance the contribution of aviation to national GDP of member-states as well as creating more jobs through aviation.
He said that the implementation of 1991 Yamousoukrou Decision was critical to developing African aviation as well as creating opportunities for Nigeria to develop a hub in West Africa.
According to him, the target of ICAO in Africa is to double passengers’ traffic and aircraft movement in a safe and secure manner.
Aliu said the hosting of the IWAF3 in Nigeria, the first time outside ICAO headquarters in Canada was to pay critical attention to infrastructure deficit in aviation industry in Nigeria and Africa at large.
He said the discussion from the forum would form the basis for addressing those challenges.
“As many of you are all aware, ICAO’s No Country Left Behind is aimed at ensuring that all members-states are supported to build a more efficient aviation sector.
“Aviation has generated 2.7 trillion dollars to global GDP and in Africa, it has added more than seven million jobs and 73 billion dollars to GDP which is significant.
The African Union Commission (AUC) says it will inaugurate the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in Jan. 2018 to increase connectivity within the continent.
The AU Chairperson wad represented by Dr Amani Abu-Zeid, AUC’s Commissioner for infrastructure and energy who noted that the liberalization of the African skies would boost socio-economic development in the continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s forum is “Financing the Development of Aviation Infrastructure’’. The opening ceremony was declared opened by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.