The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo will this month join other players in the air transport space to find a pathway to wriggling out of the myriad of challenges affecting the sector.
The minister will be speaking at the 28th edition of the Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), in Lagos.
A statement confirming his participation at the LAAC Conference said, that Keyamo will leverage on stakeholders’ inputs and garner resources from them to return the sector to the path of glory.
According to Mr. Keyamo:” Stakeholders remain a key component of my desire to reposition the aviation sector onto its enviable path where the industry can stand shoulder-high with others on the global stage. I am aware that past recommendations from the LAAC Annual Conference have helped positively shape the development of the sector.
“I have no doubt the deliberations and solutions proffered at the 2024 edition by the array of seasoned experts and stakeholders at this year’s edition.
The minister added that the theme of the conference “Aviation Survivability Amidst A Challenging Macro-economic Environment”, couldn’t have come at a better time as the ministry is poised to ensure every obstacle is addressed to reposition the sector.
A statement by the organizing committee noted that the Chief Executive Officer of CITA Group, Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, will provide leadership for the conference. At the same time, a former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Captain Hamisu Yadudu will moderate the sessions.
The document disclosed that the Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk will deliver the keynote speech while the panel session will include the Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bicourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) as members.
The statement added that a former Rector of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria, Capt Samuel Caulcrick, and the Second Vice President, of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Alex Nwuba will offer their perspectives on salient industry issues.
The theme of this year’s conference, the committee said was informed by the challenging state of Nigeria’s economy which has amplified the already existing constraints to the growth and development of Nigeria’s aviation in the form of poor access to forex, weakening currency, high fuel costs, maintenance costs, poor airports infrastructure, regulatory constraints, growing manpower demands, technology upgrade, passenger comfort, among other issues that require urgent attention of industry stakeholders.
Source: The Nation
