By Favour Nnabugwu

THE Federal Government has resolved to upgrade the Nigerian College of Aviation technology, NCAT, Zaria, into a world-class training school whose products could compete with similar institutions across the globe.

Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, revealed government’s plan for the college when he received in audience members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, led by its President, Engr. Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, who visited the Ministry in Abuja, weekend.

Chidoka said, “Aviation is a precision industry without any provision for error margins and where any little error could prove disastrous.” He addedm that the need to reduce mishaps to the barest minimum informed the federal government’s position on regular training and retraining of industry personnel.

The minister noted that the sector was in need of more aeronautical engineers and air traffic controllers, in view of the coming on stream of more airports and airlines and also government’s preparedness to collaborate with the society in the training of these professionals.

He said, “The desire of the federal government is to establish a performance-driven aviation sector that showcases the nation’s aspirations and reflects its size and economy and whose contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product, GDP, would rise to an appreciable level,” stressing that the country had all it took to be a leading aviation nation and an international hub because of its geographical location which is central to most aviation destinations.

This potential, according to him, needs to be grown and fully developed in order for the industry to improve on its contribution to the GDP which is put at a paltry 0.4%. It will be recalled that the Ministry of Aviation recently placed an order for a full Jet-Flight Simulator 5000 Series for Boeing 737 for the aviation college from CAE of Canada for $21.459 million.