…As the custodian of Nigeria’s airports, FAAN is committed to enhancing infrastructure, efficiency, and overall performance to catalyze economic growth and maximize revenue opportunities.
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Kabir Mohammed says, it is leveraging on technology to enhance security, streamline passenger processes and improve overall airport operations.
This is just as he said, the agency wants lawmakers to support infrastructure development and modernization efforts in allocating significant portion of the national budget to the aviation sector as adequate funding ensures projects are completed on time and to international standards.
Adding that, transparency and accountability in budget allocation are essential to prevent misappropriation of funds.
Speaking on the theme of the Olisa Agbakoba Legal zoom meeting: ‘Repositioning the Aviation Sector in Nigeria for Revenue Generation and Growth: Role of Legislation’, Kabir Mohammed said, it has prioritized upgrade and expansion of its infrastructure to cater to the ever growing demand for air travel.
He added that, while infrastructure development and operational efficiency are key components of repositioning the sector, legislation plays a pivotal role in this transformation.
According to Kabir represented by the Director Commercial and Business Development FAAN, Mr. Olumuyiwa Femi-Pearse noted that, effective and forward-thinking legislation can create an enabling environment for growth, attract investments, and ensure long-term sustainability.
“Legislative support is the backbone of repositioning Nigeria’s aviation sector for revenue generation and sustainable growth”.
“By passing laws that encourage collaboration between government agencies and private entities, we can harness the expertise, innovation, and financial resources of the private sector to drive the aviation sector’s growth”.
“By enacting laws that encourage private sector participation, establish a robust regulatory framework, offer tax incentives, allocate funding, create a legal framework for aviation management, promote environmental sustainability, and invest in aviation education”.
The MD FAAN listed areas legislation can enhanced aviation’s growth geared towards the desired repositioning to include safety, security, and fair competition, taxation policies related to the aviation sector, airports and Airspace Management and eco-friendly practices.
“Legislation should empower regulatory bodies to enforce international standards, maintain safety protocols, and uphold security measures. This not only builds trust among passengers and airlines but also enhances Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable aviation hub”.
He added, “Offering tax incentives to airlines, aviation-related businesses, and investors can make Nigeria a more attractive destination for investment. These incentives can include reduced import duties on aviation equipment, tax breaks for airport development projects, and other financial incentives that stimulate growth”.
“Legislation can allocate resources for the establishment of aviation training institutes and scholarships for students pursuing aviation-related degrees. A skilled workforce is vital for maintaining safety and operational excellence”.
