The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Rivers State chapter has emphasized the need for proper funding of Omagwa Airport in Portharcourt to drive growth in the aviation sector. Felix Kome-Ohwoefe, the union's chairman, made this appeal while speaking with The Tide at Omagwa Airport last Monday. He commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) management for its efforts in sustaining revenue generation in the sector.
Kome-Ohwoefe noted that the N500 billion bailout fund provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support critical sectors, including aviation, was insufficient to revitalize the industry. According to him, the fund was too small to have a significant impact on the sector. He also criticized the proposed N1 billion funding for each of the Nigerian-owned airlines, describing it as inadequate considering the current realities of financing the aviation industry in Nigeria.
The NUATE chairman advocated for a much larger fund of N100 billion to strengthen the airline business in Portharcourt. He stressed that without proper funding and support for the aviation sector, other sectors of the economy would be negatively impacted, and national development would be stunted. Kome-Ohwoefe appealed to the CBN and other concerned government stakeholders to urgently consider the need for adequate funding for the aviation sector.
Kome-Ohwoefe cited the success stories of Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, which have invested heavily in their local aviation sectors over the past two to three decades to bring them to world-class standards. He noted that Omagwa Airport has the potential to be a world-class airport if properly funded. The chairman also highlighted the importance of the aviation sector in repositioning the economy to achieve Nigeria's Vision 20:2020 ambition.
According to Kome-Ohwoefe, several small countries with populations smaller than Nigeria's have made significant investments in their aviation sectors, yielding impressive results. He mentioned Dubai, one of the emirates that make up the UAE, which boasts the world's largest cargo airport. The chairman emphasized that Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million, should prioritize investing in its aviation sector to drive economic growth.
The NUATE chairman's call for increased funding for Omagwa Airport comes as the aviation sector continues to play a critical role in Nigeria's economy. The sector has the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve the country's global competitiveness. However, the lack of adequate funding has hindered the sector's growth, with many airports, including Omagwa Airport, struggling to meet international standards.
Kome-Ohwoefe's appeal to the government and stakeholders to prioritize funding for the aviation sector is seen as a move to ensure the sector's growth and contribution to Nigeria's economic development. The chairman's emphasis on the need for proper funding and support for the sector is a reminder of the critical role that government intervention can play in driving growth and development in the aviation industry.
Key points
- NUATE Rivers State chapter chairman, Felix Kome-Ohwoefe, calls for N100 billion funding to strengthen airline business in Portharcourt.
