By Matthew Denis
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has bemoaned the slow pace of growth in the Nigerian aviation industry.
Chairman of the Kwara State branch of the association, Comrade James Abiodun Olawale stated this during an interview with Pilot Aviation in Ilorin, recently, said there was lull in activities in the sector in the outgone year.
He said: “When you critically examine the turnout of activities in the aviation industry in 2018 you will discover that there wasn’t much achievements to reckon with.
“We were expecting better gains based on the fact that the country had pulled out of recession, so that we can count the gains in the aviation industry. But to our dismay, I can say that there was really no tangible gain as it were. I can say categorically that the aviation world has left Nigeria behind.
“When you look at the gains that have been made in other countries around the world, and Africa in particular, it is huge and the world will not wait for Nigeria,” he added.
Olawale, therefore,. called on the Federal Government to take proactive measures towards the development of the viable sector towards boosting revenue.
“This should be a wake- up call for us to start looking at how we can develop the most sensitive industry in the Nigerian economy. You will all agree with me that aviation is not an industry that should be neglected in any way or any manner.
“I think, to a very large extent that was why the Federal Government gave it a special portfolio under the ministry of transportation, and a minister was attached to it. But be that as it may, we haven’t seen much growth as expected in the industry to the point that even the downstream sector is feeling the impact.”
He then called on the Federal Government to introduce effective policies that will make Nigeria to compete favourably with other African countries like South Africa and Ethiopia in the aviation sector.
