NCAA Boss Solicits Private Sector Supporta

The Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has urged the private sector to invest in the aviation industry, saying that such investment would be highly profitable.

Dr. Demuren who was speaking at a recent conference organised by the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, in Lagos said Nigeria’s air transport sector was the fastest growing aviation market in the world.

The NCAA boss who was represented by the Director, Air Worthiness Standard identified some of the options that were open to prospective investors in the aviation industry, such as airport facilities, maintenance of hangar, terminals, cargo operations etc.

“Let me emphasise that prospective investors who tap into them would reap bumper profit with five million annual passenger traffic at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, about four million at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and an aggregate if over seven million in all the airports in Nigeria. The investment potential in the fast growing Nigeria’s air travel market is huge,” he said.

According to him, several investment platforms at the airports are unknown to sundry potential investors.

He lamented that Nigeria was losing so much money to foreign maintenance (C-checks) carried out outside the country.

“This is due to the fact that we do not have any company where these c-checks can be done. However, there are facilities for A and B checks. This is a huge yawning investments opportunity for local investors,” he said.

He pointed out that Nigerian pilots would be saved the stress of traveling outside for recertification and air craft simulator training test if the Nigerian business men would take up the gauntlet and invest in the aviation industry.

Demuren expressed dismay that the level of growth experienced by the action’s airline was not supported by corresponding infrastructural development.

“Aviation will unleash its full potential if the private sector buys into the transformation agenda and leverage on the emerging opportunities in the sector. Nigeria will continue to be an attractive market due its huge population,” he said.

“What is therefore required at this time is abundant political will, adequate legislation and a review of the civil aviation policy to propose cogent guidelines for infrastructural development in all facets, including funding,” he added.