Buhari names Sen. Hadi Sirika as the Minister of State Aviation …Aviation Round Table counsels

Sen. Hadi Sirika

As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari assigned portfolios to the appointed minsters at the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council, Sen. Sirika Hadi assumes office as the new Minister of State Aviation. He was born  on the 2nd March, 1964.  A former pilot and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who represents Katsina North Senatorial District under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change. Sirika held the position of (Vice-Chairman) of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) Committee set by the Nigerian Senate. He became a senator in 2011. He attended Nigeria Civil Aviation training center Zaria Aircraft Engineers License 1985 – 1989. Also, he attended Delta Aeronautics International, USA where he obtained Pilot license, Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

1994 – 1995.

Reacting to the collapse of Ministry of Aviation, Aviation Round Table through its President,  Mr. Gabriel Olowo said, “We at Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative ( ART ) salute the Federal Government and in deed Mr. President Mohammed Buhari for the courage taken to collapse the Aviation ministry as a department in Transport .

This is in line with our long time yearning for various reasons top among which is constant political interference with Nigeria CAA , eroding its authorities , autonomy and negatively impacting safety and commerce”.

To hit the ground running Mr. Olowo gave the following road map for the new aviation helmsman that:

NCAA should begins to assert itself and exercise its full autonomy in all matters of regulation ,training, enforcement on civil aviation safety and security.

Government should ensure total implementation of privatization & commercialization Act 2000 as it affects aviation service providers such as FAAN, NAMA and probably NCAT.

Complete privatization of airport passenger and cargo terminal buildings is a necessary and sufficient condition for immediate progress in that sector given the many  competing needs on infrastructural deficits for social services from the very meagre resource of government.

 CAA should through regulation midwife 2-3 strong, efficient national flag carriers immediately . These airlines must reciprocate all traffic rights and address the negative balance of trade against Nigeria.

A centralized airport security system fashioned after US Transport Security Administration ( TSA ) . This will immediately put a stop to the many corrupt check points , irritating to airport users and prevent various conflicts among security agencies.