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| Hon, Minister of State(Aviation) Sen. Hadi Sirika while addressing the 39th General Assembly |
The President of ICAO Council, Secretary
General of ICAO, the President of the Assembly, distinguished heads of
delegations and States’ delegates, eminent observes here present, members of
the media, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is indeed my honour and privilege on behalf of the Nigerian
Delegation, first and foremost extend to you all very warm greetings and
felicitations from our President, his Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the
good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also let me join other
delegations to congratulate the President of the 39th ICAO General
Assembly
We are here to reflect on the
developments that have taken place in Aviation industry and to seek new ways of
improving them beyond the next triennium. These new strategies should make air
transportation more safe, secure, efficient and above all environmentally
friendly so as to ensure the growth and sustainability of the aviation industry
globally.
In light of the above,
Nigeria fully support the ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative.
I therefore wish to use this opportunity to again call on
member states especially the developed countries, financial institutions and
donor agencies to support this initiative with a view to assisting this to
implement ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practises.
Nigeria, even prior
to this initiative have been collaborating with ICAO and African Civil Aviation
Commission, AFCAC to promote safety in the West Africa sub-region through the
hosting and subvention funding of Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety
Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), the Aviation safety organisation which has
its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria Federal Capital Territory. It gladdens my
heart to say that as of today, there is no state in our sub-region on the list
of state with significant safety concern.
Nigeria will continue to champion the
advancement of civil aviation in our sub-region through the continuous hosting
and sponsorship of ICAO’s safety,
security, air transport and environmental programmes including comprehensive
regional implementation plan of aviation
safety in Africa . Within the last two
years we have made major strides to
promote safety in our airspace. This was confirmed with the success recorded by
Nigeria in the ICAO audit. We have also successfully retained FAA category One
rating. Presently, we are reviewing the primary aviation legislation, Civil
Aviation Act 2006 to ensure that Nigeria civil aviation authority continues to
exercise requisite power and full autonomy
to regulate aviation safety
without political interference.
Distinguish
delegates, I am equally glad to mention that Nigeria has continue to record
significant improvement in the area of aviation security. With the installation
of modern security equipment at our airports with continuos implementation of
our national aviation security programme and up to date training of aviation security
personnel . Only recently we carried out
vulnerability analysis of our airports
and put in place measures to curb any act of terrorism. Nigeria’s excellent
outing at the last ICAO security audit which took place in June 2015 attest to our efforts in this
area.
We are
however believe that ICAO and member
states must continue to put in place proactive measures to curb ever-increasing
threat to security of civil aviation. It
is also noteworthy to mention that Nigeria continues to participate in the ICAO’s
PKD and support ICAO’s effort to provide assistance to other West African
states in their resolve to introduce e-passport. We are also in consultation with
the United Nation to establish aviation security training schools in Nigeria and these schools will serve not only Nigeria but the entire
sub-region. Nigeria reaffirms its believe that ICAO should be the forum through
which all aviation technical issues relating to environment must be resolved. I
therefore express the full support of Nigeria for the efforts being made by
ICAO to minimise the impact of aircraft engine emissions on our environment as well as the work of the council committee on aviation
environmental protection .
I will
like to use this privileged opportunity to commend ICAO and member states for the
adoption of resolution on A37-19 and A38-18 in 2010 and 2013 respectively. This achievement demonstrates
to the world the uniqueness of our industry and our ability to put aside our
differences for the common good and sustainable development of air
transportation.. I
therefore wish to appeal that as we deliberate and work towards having a resolution
on global market based measures , we should ensure that our decision will not
negatively impact the growth of air
transportation particularly in the developing and emerging economy. Nigeria on
its part has submitted state action plan on environment to ICAO and has been making assiduous efforts to
implement the passage of the measure in the action plan to reduce emission. We have
continued to pursue a policy of fleet renewal and use of newer and more
efficient aircraft by Nigerian operators. Additionally, we have implemented
measures to enhance the efficiency of air traffic management including
Performance Based Navigation (PBN) as well as to restore solar
airfield lighting at our airports among others.
Nigeria
remains a major provider of facilities for international civil aviation. The
government in its effort to establish Nigeria as an aviation hub for West and
Central Africa, it has put in place a Nigeria Aviation Master Plan that included
that establishment of new National carrier and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul
centre and Aviation Leasing Company and concession of our airports. All of
these will be through Public Private Partnership.
We also
have developed a policy on Remotely Piloted Aircraft which is being strengthened
now to ensure safe and secure aviation in our region. I am however convinced
that continued cooperation and collaboration of member states and ICAO
facilitate the achievement of aviation safety and security as well as environmental
friendly aviation industry globally. One area of collaboration is urgently
needed is the capacity building and development especially in the developing
states. Nigeria generously contributed to the ICAO’s human development fund. I
wish to appeal to member states and donor agencies and partners to donate
generously to this fund to help build capacity in developing states.
Distinguish
ladies and gentlemen, Nigeria is indeed privilege to have been a member of this
august council since 1962 and we truly cherish the opportunity to collaborate
with other member states to advance the work of the organisation for greater efficiency
and effectiveness in line with ICAO strategic objectives.
In the same spirit, Nigeria will like to use
this opportunity to solicit the support
of ICAO member state for our re-election into PART 2 of ICAO Council. In addition, Nigeria also request your
support for the election and re-election
of those African states which has been endorsed by AFCAC to the ICAO
Council. Nigeria is also delighted to refer to the candidature of Dr. Olumuyiwa
Bernard Aliu the Presdient of ICAO Council for re-election to the post of
President of the Council in November 2016. We solicit and thank ICAO members
states on his candidature. I will not conclude and I will not belabour you with
too much but I deem it very important to sign-off by appealing to entire member states to ensure
that, No Country is truly Left Behind in their region.
Thank You.
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