.Set to show potential in aviation industry
As part of efforts to increase the contributions of aviation to the Gross Domestic Product of the country, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) today held a pre-event press briefing where it unveiled the logo of the 59th ACI-Africa Board and Regional Committees Meetings and Regional Conference and Exhibition which it will to host in Lagos between April 14- 20, 2018.
The event which would have in attendance the Council President of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Dr Bernard Aliu; attracting over 300 delegates and participants from all around the globe, would also give the airport authority and the nation the opportunity to showcase its potential to investors around the world.
Speaking at the event held at Raddisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos to intimate the media community and other stakeholders with the forthcoming conference, Managing Director of FAAN, Engineer Saleh Dunoma said: “the theme of this year’s conference, “Business Transformation for Sustainable Development of African Airports” is apt as it tends to showcase the country’s potentials to the rest of the world.
“The country will play host to the world from April 14-20, 2018 the trickled down effect of boosting tourism and enabling foreigners experience Nigeria, her beautiful people, arts and craft”.
Speaking on how it would bring about increased Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) into the country, Dunoma said,” Nigeria is currently seeking investments especially in the aviation industry and this conference will give an insight to areas where investments are needed.”
Dunoma who is the incumbent President of the global airports body in Africa, said the FAAN has made giant strides since becoming part of league, even as he disclosed that his tenure as the President of ACI Africa, has ensured that Nigeria is in the limelight and has offered the country the opportunity to be at the centre of decision making in matter affecting aviation industry at the global level.
According to him, “Over the years, ACI Africa had focused on safety as a priority leading to the initiation of the world wide acknowledged Airport Excellence (APEX) in safety programme. This has recorded great achievements as there as has been a drastic decrease in the number of incidents and accidents in Africa.”
He added, “Nigeria has gone through successful certification of both Lagos and Abuja Airports have currently commenced APEX in safety programme of Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and Kaduna airports.” He
”In Nigeria, ACI has been of tremendous assistance in the certification process of the Lagos and Abuja airports through the APEX in safety programme which helped us identify safety gaps in our aerodromes. In recognition of the role played by ACI and in FAAN’s bid to ensure safety in our airports, we have commenced the APEX in safety programme in other of our international Airports namely Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and Kaduna airports.
“I am pleased to announce that today is the inaugural day of the week-long APEX in safety review in Port Harcourt which will be closely followed by the APEX review in Kano. The safety reviews for Kaduna and Enugu will be carried out in May of this year. FAAN is engaging a proactive means of mitigating risks and ensuring the overall safety of our passengers.”
