By Favour Nnabugwu

ABUJA—Aviation Minister, Mr. Osita Chidoka, yesterday re-echoed the Federal Government’s determination to make the country a hub in West Africa.

He also spoke of government’s desires to establish an airlink with several other countries of the world, especially South-East Asia nations.

Chidoka, who spoke at Course 36 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos, said the efforts at repositioning the aviation sector could be boosted with direct flights to other countries.

He said: “The desire of the Federal Government is to establish Nigeria as an aviation hub for the West African sub-region, which can only be achieved by making it attractive through the adoption of international best practices in the management of the airports.

“The absence of any kind of direct link between Nigeria and the growing market of Asia, denies the nation of revenue accruable to both local airlines and the nation.

“The industry is properly positioned to contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, through the establishment of a baseline for effective service delivery.”