CURIOUSLY, princesses in mythology, perhaps because of their comfortable circumstances and fortunes, are often wont to engage in flights of fancy – ‘unrealistic ideas or fantastic notions; pipe dreams…’

But along comes one princess who takes a firm position that this quirky notion of queens-in-the-making needs to be rested for good. Which princess? She is Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah.

Her brief, incidentally to oversee the flight arena of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, puts the Amazon from Anambra State squarely on the spot. Here is why.

Aviation is an industry of continental strategic importance to Africa and is considered a vital tool for economic development on the continent.

This becomes more critical considering the level of surface transport development across the continent. Aviation generated about half a million jobs and contributed more than $10 billion USD to Africa’s GDP in 2007. What’s more, its main role is to facilitate economic activity.

Without dispute, Africa depends mostly on air transport for intra-continental linkage and connection with the rest of the world. According to Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), a safe, secure and efficient aviation industry is crucial to support the range of businesses, trade, tourism, cultural, and social activities that significantly contribute to Africa’s economic growth and prosperity.

Notes NASI, “The development of the industry is threatened by a plethora of socio-economic and political issues, including the public perception that the industry in Africa is both unsafe and inefficient.

A survey of regulatory agencies found that 27 out of the 54 states audited lacked effective implementation of critical elements of the safety oversight system. These countries were placed under the Audit Results Review Board (ARRB) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“Although it is not the only continent composed of a number of ‘third world countries’, Africa remains the only continent where the number of people living below the World Bank poverty level (less than $1.25 a day) has increased in the last 25 years. The factors involved are numerous and include the presence of conflict, corruption and insecurity. Others are the lack of regional co-operation, group synergy, political will, aligned government policies, requisite physical infrastructure and a skilled and experienced workforce.”

Against this extremely challenging backdrop, a visioner was needed to conceptualise a new game-plan and drive the needed change. When Princess  Oduah came on board, she had only one mission – “to transform, in very tangible ways, the face of aviation industry in Nigeria.”

After a comprehensive assessment of the state of infrastructure and facilities around the airports, and a sad appreciation of the scope of decay and dilapidation, she quickly shed her delicate princess’ footing and grabbed the plough. She has not looked back since then.

Like all important leaders, she drew up a road map. In her case, this had three strategic implementation phases. The first phase or the short term agenda was to immediately give a face-lift to Nigeria’s airports. This resulted in the simultaneous re-modelling and reconstruction of 11 airports across the country.

THESE include the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and the GeneraL Aviation Terminal (GAT), both in Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa; the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. Others  include the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar. Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos; the Yola, Kaduna Airport and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.

In Oduah justifiably exultant words: “As at this  moment, I am happy to inform you that all the projects have reached 80 percent completion and would be completed and put to immediate use  in the few weeks. The second phase of the remodelling works for the remaining 11 airports  is  expected to commence soon. At the end of this exercise, all 22 federally owned airports will wear a new look.” She spoke some four weeks ago while addressing journalists.

The second phase of her Road Map which falls under the medium term programme of action is the construction of five new international airports/terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. This was boosted recently when President Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) granted approval for the award of contract for the immediate take-off of construction work on the five new terminals.

According to Oduah, “As we travel round the world, we see and admire international airports in other climes and wish our nation could boast of just one that can truly go by the name, international airport. Today, following the approval of FEC, we have concluded arrangements to commence construction of not just one, but five brand new, world class international airports.” In further elucidation, she stated that her dream was to transform the aviation sector into a major contributor to the nation’s GDP and the airports are pivotal to the actualisation of this dream.

Dreams of course are the seedlings of reality. Oduah is simply reaffirming this old truth. The contracts for the construction of the five airports have a lifespan of 18 months. The projects, the are to be executed with a concessionary loan of 22 years with 5 years  moratorium at an interest rate of 2 per cent. Mobilisation to site by the contractors is expected to commence within the  next 60 days. According to an aviation ministry official: “What this means is that before the end of the lifespan of this administration, we would have been able to bequeath to Nigerians, the airports of their dreams.”

The third phase of the implementation strategy is the Aerotropolis project. Something of a novelty, aerotropolis are airport cities that provide clusters of businesses ranging from manufacturing, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), hospitality, recreation, retail trading, amongst others. Today, emerging facts reveal that aviation passenger traffic in the country stood at 14.6 million in 2011. This, aviation sources predict, will rise to about 34 million in 2026. The aerotroplis concept, Oduah explains, will provide a new airport experience for this growing number.

Recently, the ministry embarked on an international Investors’ Road Show to China and the United States of America (USA) to market the huge opportunities that abound for investment in the nation’s aviation sector. According to aviation ministry sources, Oduah will shortly be returning to China to sign contracts for the take-off of construction work on the five brand new terminals. To ensure safe air travels, more stringent measures were deployed to enhance aviation safety.

Some of these include: Re-certification of the entire industry – Airlines, Airports, Aircraft and Aviation personnel. There is also at present, closer surveillance of foreign and domestic carriers, while Aircraft Tracking System has been installed to boost search and rescue capability. Part of the safety-related projects include the installation of Low Level Wind Shear Alert Systems, LLWAS in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt airports. Then there is the Total Very High Frequency, VHF coverage is in Kano airport, while an Integrated Aviation Weather Observation and Display System, AWODS has been installed at Murtala Mohammemd International Airport, Lagos.

Oduah’s milestones include the sustenance of the Category, CAT 1 certification and the maintenance of all International Civil Aviation Organisations, ICAO standards and industry best practices. She has also strengthened the Nigerian College of Aviation and Technology to become a regional centre for excellence in aviation training and capacity building. Apart from remodelling 11 airports, she has also repositioned the aviation security infrastructure and procedures to meet current threats and challenges.

The Minister had called for collaboration of D-8 countries to strengthen air safety amongst its members. Member nations include: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan. The Minister is seeking partnership in areas, such as training, airport operations, airline operations and financing.

Against the background of these reasoned,  novel ‘Marshall Plan’ to reinvent the near-moribund aviation sector , Princess Oduah, by any objective parameters, cannot be said to be embarking on a flight of fancy.

Mr.  LOUIS UTUIKE, a commentator on n ational issues,  wrote from Abuja.