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| (R-L) Senator Hadi Sirika, Minister of State Aviation and Dr. O.B. Aliu ICAO President at the just concluded World Aviation Forum in Montreal Canada |
"May I invite to the podium, Senator Hadi Abubakar
Sirika, Minister of State, Aviation, Nigeria!"
As he stepped onto the podium amidst thunderous applause
from an audience of aviation professionals drawn from over 100 countries, his
steps exuded confidence of a man at home on a familiar terrain.
The occasion is the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum
at Montreal Canada.
As he engaged his captivated audience on the topic
"How safe and reliable air transport delivers important economic benefits
to States", it became clearer that Nigeria is taking its rightful place as
the centrepoint of aviation in Africa.
Hear him
"Nigeria, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,
will continue to upgrade and develop aviation infrastructure to improve
aviation Safety and Security, thus creating an enabling environment for growth
of airlines and other service providers, as well as protecting the interest of aviation
end-users".
His colleagues from Canada, Colombia as well as major
stakeholders from China, Europe and America formed part of a global audience of
aviation enthusiasts who were treated to rich and coherent symbiotic
relationship of sustainable economies and sustainable aviation.
Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, the President of the Council
of ICAO, himself a Nigerian, could not have been happier. He is serving out his
tenure as the first African to occupy that office.
Hadi Sirika did not find himself on the global scene by
accident.
A retired pilot and aeronautic engineer with diverse
experience in the aviation industry, Senator Hadi Sirika is a graduate of Petroleum Helicopters
Institute, Flight Safety International and Delta Aeronautics all in the United
States of America. While in active
service, Sirika succumbed to pressure from his people and was subsequently
elected into Federal House of Representatives to represent Dutsi/Mashi Federal
Constituency in Katsina State from 2003 – 2007. During this period, he was the
Vice Chairman, House Committee on Aviation and his diverse experience in the
aviation industry was extremely beneficial to the committee during oversight
functions. Most significantly, his in-depth contributions and understanding of
the industry aided in the smooth passage of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency
Autonomous bill in 2006. Following this remarkable stint, he was again drafted
and elected as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Katsina North Senatorial
district from 2011 to 2015. He distinguished himself as Member Senate Committee on Aviation and
Vice Chairman, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) where he deeper his skills
in governance.
The appointment of this aviator to drive the vision of
President Muhammadu Buhari
administration was an answered prayer for aviation stakeholders who craved for
one of their own. A perfect fit for a round peg in a round hole.
As he stepped off the podium to a standing ovation, Sen
Hadi Sirika who is barely 10 days in office as Minister of State, Aviation was
not done yet. Like James Bond in James Hardly Chase's epic thriller, he left a parting shot for the President of
ICAO, Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu. "Nigeria will support you for another term
as President of ICAO!".
Yakubu Dati is the General Manager,
Corporate Affairs in Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN
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