Worried about the spate of Airlines collapse in the country, a pilot and Former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada has called for concerted efforts from Aviation stakeholders to converge a roundtable to look at the problems with a view to proffering lastly solutions to the problems.
Speaking at the dinner and awards organized by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers’ NAAPE to unveil the compendium of 50 outstanding pilots and engineers in Lagos, Capt Wada said, domestic airlines do not operate for long in Nigeria for instance a decade, adding that this is a cause for concern.
The Former Governor and EAS airline boss, said the aviation industry remained a very capital intensive endeavour stressing the need for full dedication by stakeholders towards the survival of the industry in the country.
Captain Wada who was a recipient of the awards as a pilot, commended members of NAAPE for putting together the ceremony in recognising pilots and engineers in the industry.
Minister of State Aviation, Hadi Sirika represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Capt Fola Akinkuotu said applauded NAAPE for contributing immensely to the development and success of the aviation industry.
Sirika sued for higher commitment in the industry especially from the awardees in order to continue making progress.
While congratulating them on the unveiling of the compendium, Sirika urged NAAPE to continue to work within the law by maintaining standards assuring them of the ministry’s support to succeed.
The Chairman of the occasion Mr Aderemi Makanjuola represented by Capt Josiah Choms Managing Director of Caverton, said the era of confrontation by unions with management of organizations was over as issues were now addressed through dialogue with management.
According to Makanjuola, the integrity of trade unionism must be protected, noting that the unveiling of the compendium has shown how far the aviation industry has achieved great feats.
He urged NAAPE to remain focus in order to continue maintaining their position in the industry.
Earlier in his welcome address, the president of NAAPE, Comrade Abednego Galadima noted that for over three decades that the association has remained firm in the advocacy for the rights, privileges, and welfare of Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers on one hand and ensuring professionalism and professional excellence while promoting safety of the industry.
Galadima said Nigerian pilots and engineers have been contributing immensely to the growth and development of the global aviation industry in general and Nigeria in particular.
He said the industry has recorded five accident free years which is evidence that Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers, who without doubts were pillars of the industry.
Galadima however noted that with unity, the increasing rate of unemployment among pilots and aircraft engineers in the country will be a thing of the pass.
He announced that NAAPE has instituted an annual aviation safety award for aviation organizations, both public and private aimed at promoting and entrenching safety culture and rewarding safe practices.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony, include, the rector Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Capt Mohammed Abdullah, Former rector Capt Adebayo Araba, former DG Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Engineer Fidelis Onyeyiri, Former president of Aviation Round Table, Capt Dele Ore, Managing Director of Aero Contractors Capt Ado Sanusi among others.
