The
Federal Government said on Thursday that a new national carrier with at
least 30 brand new aircraft would soon be established.
The Director of
Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Henry Omeogu,
disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during his visit to the Port
Harcourt International Airport.
Omeogu explained that
though the new national carrier would be private sector-driven, fairly
used or old aircraft would not be allowed to be among the fleet of its
airplanes.
He said the move was
part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan for the
aviation sector, adding that the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella
Oduah, was determined to turn around the industry.
Explaining that the
Federal Government was interested in raising the standard in the
aviation sector to a world-class level, Omeogu disclosed that the
government had begun the renovation of 11 airports across the country.
“We are going to have
about 30 brand new aircraft and they (aircraft) will be our national
carrier. The effort will be private-sector driven. We will insist that
others who would want to be part this should come with brand new
aircraft,” Omeogu stressed.
The FAAN director gave
an assurance that by 2014, the Federal Government would have achieved
nearly 100 per cent of its plans to transform the aviation sector.
He said improved
security within and around airports across the country was part of the
arrangement for a new aviation industry, adding that over 50 policemen
had already been moved from Abuja to the Port Harcourt International
Airport.
“The President has
signed performance contracts with all the sectors, and at the end of the
day, any person that cannot key into the new vision of the Federal
Government will naturally leave the system,” he added.
Omeogu explained that
the ongoing transformation of the country’s aviation sector would
provide many employment opportunities for the citizens.
He said materials needed for the
renovation of some of the airports in the country were available, while
the contractors had been paid to avoid any delay in the completion of
the projects.