By LAWANI MIKAIRU

As aviation stakeholders in Nigeria take stock of activities in the industry in 2013, the consensus of opinion is that the industry recorded significant milestones during the year. As expected, there were also some events that almost mar the achievements of the Minister of Aviation. Some of the low points recorded in the sector in 2013 are the crash of Associated Airline and the purchase of two amoured cars scandal involving the minister.

It is believed that some of the achievements recorded were products of the Aviation Sector Master Plan, otherwise known as the Aviation Roadmap, created by the  Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah to facilitate the implementation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the aviation industry.

Some of these milestones include the Airport Remodeling Project, which has led to the structural transformation of many airport terminals across the country, in keeping with international standards and practices. During the year, work also started on the construction of five new international airport terminals in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu under a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Nigeria and China.

Another significant milestone is the commencement of international flights by Ethiopian Airlines at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on August 24, which was the first international flight from the south-east geopolitical zone of the country since independence. Following the remodeling of the international terminal of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Turkish Airlines joined the list of foreign airlines operating at the airport on December 13.

On October 29, Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air services Agreement, BASA, with Israel in Tel Aviv for the commencement of direct flights between the two countries.
The ‘E’ and ‘D’ fingers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have been expanded extensively and put to use, with full complement of  facilities as conveyor belts, security screening machines, immigration counters and transit lounges, which are at various stages of completion.

The introduction of  aerotropolis, airport cities, and perishable cargo export into the country’s aviation industry are major landmarks that are designed to make the industry make significant contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) even in the short term.
A number of policies were also introduced by the  Minister of Aviation  during this period, some of which were the removal of import duties on aircraft spares, providing an enabling environment for local airline operators to acquire new aircraft, reintroduction of a national carrier for the country and the automation of revenue points of all parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation.