The Minister of state, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika yesterday said
the reconstruction of 2nd runway of Abuja International Airport was a
disaster in waiting if not fixed as soon as possible.
Sirika during the formal handing over to him by the out gone
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta
Bello said said government could not afford to delay the reconstruction
of te Abuja runway any further because of the enormous danger involved.
“I am very young in the industry but where l trained, we have 8
runways and a single runway is just an invitation for disaster and that
is why we have to do it, it is a must, it must be done.”
He also said that the re-modeling of airports across the country, the
introduction of development fund for the aviation and the maintaining
and sustaining existing structures in the sector were paramount to
current administration.
The Minister of State assured the Nigerians that every fund meant for
projects in the aviation sector would be judiciously and appropriately
used to bring the desired change to the sector.
He warned that he would not tolerate laxity from agencies and members
of staff of the sector, “I know 95 percent of you here; some are my
colleagues, friends and even my senior in the sector. Please do not
leverage on the relationship, do your work, and be the boss, take your
work for granted and be the boss.”
He emphasised training and re-training of staff of the sector to enhance their proficiency and cover for possible errors
Speaking on her six months tenure in the aviation sector, Hajiya
Binta Bello said the sector during short tenure delivered effectively on
the core mandate of ensuring safety, security and comfort of air
travelers.
“On the 7th of May, I resumed the sector and within the six months
that l stayed, l ensured that we continue to deliver effectively,
efficiently the mandate of the aviation sector in terms of security,
safety and comfort of passengers.”
“There is no ministry, former or new that has no challenges and the
challenges of the aviation sector are as usual as you know, funding remains the main issue of the sector. I know when I took over, l met a
debt of over N100billion and l have not been able to pay back even N1
billion, so it’s a huge challenge.”
On the Abuja second runway, she said: “We have at the moment an issue
which has turned to be a national issue and everybody is looking
forward to it. I’m sure you are aware that i constituted a committee to
look into the best model government could adopt and recommendation have
since been submitted to the office of the President.
“There is also the need for construction of the second runway in
Abuja. You are also aware that the existing runway at Abuja is over 30
years old, it has given way and there is need to construct a new one and
l would want to mention here that no contract on the second runway has
been awarded.”
While welcoming the Minister of State for Aviation, the new Permanent
Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Sabiu Zakari
pledged the support and loyalty of the staff to the Minister while he
admonished the staff to support the Minister in his duty to achieve the
Buhari’s administration focus of change mantra.
Source: Vanguard News
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