More heads will roll in aviation industry, says Sirika

Barely one week to the end of his tenure, the Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, has spoken of plans to re-organise aviation agencies.

According to him, removal of heads of agencies would continue before the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ends on May 29.

Sirika said there is nothing unusual as there is a set time to start a programme and another time to conclude it. He insisted the recent re- organisation in the sector was approved by President Buhari as part of the road map to consolidate the industry’s growth and development.

The minister spoke at the inauguration of expansion of the first phase of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) Terminal Zulu in Lagos. Sirika said the new facility will allow airlines increase the number of passengers processed at the facility from 254 to 1,024.

According to him, the project was conceived to address the terminal’s decades-long limited capacity challenge.

He said: “The geometric increase in population of Nigeria, which resulted in increase in passenger volume, has overwhelmed available facilities at this terminal. And as part of efforts to address this challenge, the Federal Government at some point developed the Zulu Terminal to complement the existing old terminal, but the capacity limitation situation persisted.

“We therefore evaluated the situation, and decided to expand the terminal, as a short term measure to address the situation. It is our intention to build a new and much bigger domestic terminal in the nearest future.

“The facility we are opening today is a product of that thought, and it is only the first phase of the project. As soon as we put this to use, we hope the incoming administration will continue with the second phase.

“As you will be seeing in due course, this facility contains brand new protocol lounges, airline office spaces, VIP lounges, with the complements of conveniences that will enhance safety, security and comfort of our esteemed passengers.

“The project started early last year, and I am glad the first phase was completed in record time, and is being opened today. I am confident that this facility will enhance passenger facilitation at this terminal, and also improve the revenue generation of FAAN.”