Nigerian aviation industry anticipates 20m passenger by 2020

Ms. Oduah said Nigeria ranks just below China and Japan in terms of passenger volume.

The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, said on Wednesday that the aviation industry is anticipating a passenger volume of 15 million to 20 million by the year 2020.

The minister, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Sector Reform, Anne Ene-Etta, made this known to newsmen in Lagos.

Ms. Oduah said that Nigeria, after China and Japan, ranked in terms of passenger volume and is expected to keep growing at a rate of nine to 10 per cent annually.

She said that the phenomenon could not have been achieved without the support of all the regulators and operators within the aviation industry. She said the aviation industry was recognised to be an integral part of the socio-economic system of the country and played a critical role in national economic development.

Ms. Oduah said that aviation policies must be tailored to address the contemporary socio-economic development of the government; adding that the revised National Civil Aviation Policy, NCAP, would be responsive and adaptable to new safety, security and technology dynamics of the global aviation industry.

She said this included the strengthening of the existing regulatory framework and facilitating the growth of domestic airlines, the setting up of the National Carrier, and the development of aerotropoli.

Ms. Oduah said it also involved support to the introduction and sustainability of flights to remote and underserved cities as a Public Service Obligation.

The minister said that these measures would in the medium and long term improve performance, resilience and the passenger experience.

She said this will contribute about N198 billion to the country’s economy, which represents six per cent of the GDP.

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, George Uriesi, said that the construction work was going on roads that would lead to airports.

Mr. Uriesi said that FAAN has zero tolerance for touting and warned that anybody caught would be dealt with.

He said that the present FAAN management has not witnessed any stolen baggage in recent times.

“Baggage loss is a thing of the past,” he said.

(NAN)