The Federal Government has continued to receive accolades, following the successful completion of the repairs on the Abuja airport runway.
British Airways and most experts in the nation’s aviation industry have commended the Nigerian government on the timely completion of the repairs on the Abuja airport runway.
The airline’s Regional Commercial Manager for West Africa, Mr Kola Olayinka, lauded the government in a statement issued by the airline at the weekend.
According to him, British Airways is very pleased that the international airport has reopened, adding “British Airways will like to applaud the Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika, and his team, for the brilliant job done on the Abuja runway”.
In the same vein, the Association of Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and industry think-tank Aviation Round Table (ART) in separate statements made available to LEADERSHIP on the re-opening of Abuja airport, both association and union commended the Minister for the job.
President ART, Elder Gabriel Olowo who signed the release stated,” We in ART salute the minister of Aviation and his agencies for living true to its promise to deliver Abuja runway on schedule as we count down to 19 April.”
“Measurable deliverable remains our challenge in the sector and we are quite pleased the minister even put his job on the line on the project during ART breakfast meeting with himself and the information minister.”
“We appreciate the presidency for giving the essential and necessary support to make this happen on schedule. It is our prayer that such purposeful actions is sustained in the sector as we demand that Aviation delivers 1 % of Nigeria GDP by 2020 as against the present meager 0.4 %. We demand for measurable growth on the Airline side and the Airports.”
In a similar statement signed by the General Secretary of ANAP, Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, he described the feat as a welcome one stating that ANAP has been vindicated for supporting the plan from the outset and believing in it instead of criticizing for any selfish gain.
Comrade Saidu further enjoined the Minister to take time out now that his schedule seems freer to accept a solidarity visit aimed at boosting the objective in the industry.
Members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE have also expressed its satisfaction with the way and manner the federal government handled the closure and reopening of the Abuja airport runway.
The aviation professionals in an official statement issued at the weekend stated that “NAAPE is very pleased with the reopening of the Abuja airport on schedule. We consider it very impressive that that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been able to carry out this assignment with diligence and sense of responsibility.
“NAAPE wishes to commend the Honourable Minister of State, Aviation for his outstanding zeal, dedication, and patriotism as well as astute leadership in the course of this task. FAAN also deserves commendation for the accuracy of the timing of the construction period as well as the substantial upgrade achieved in the airport terminal within such a short period”, the statement pointed out.