The Federal Government has declared that it will put in place policies and processes that will ensure domestic Airlines in the country do not go extinct as was the case in the past with the advent of the Cape Town Convention.
Speaking at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development Conference on the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol Implementation in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stressed the importance of enabling frameworks to aid the survival of local carriers.
Shettima said before the adoption of the Cape Town Convention, a protocol simplifying aircraft leasing and acquisition many Nigerian airlines faced near-collapse.
He lamented the high mortality rate of domestic airlines in the past 40 years, which has seen many carriers go out of business.
The Vice President assured stakeholders that the government is committed to creating a conducive environment to support the growth and sustainability of the aviation sector.
While commending local operators for their resilience, despite the excruciating business environment, he affirmed that the Cape Town Convention has proven to be a transformative legal framework, harmonizing diverse global legal systems to foster predictability and stability for aviation stakeholders.
The Minister appealed to the Nigerian Custom Service and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to collaborate with the NCAA to ensure Nigeria is not found wanting in the implementation of the convention.
On his part, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo said the Cape Town Convention aligns seamlessly with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu’ agenda, which has offer a pathway to modernizing the country aviation sector and ensuring its contribution to Nigeria’s prosperity.
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