The appointment of the legal icon, Festus Keyamo, as the new minister of aviation has elicited reactions across the sector.
While some key players punctured the appointment of Keyamo due to his inexperience in aviation, others welcomed him on the premise that the so called aviators once appointed as the minister fell beyond expectations.
According to a former president of Aviation Round Table (ART), Elder Gbenga Olowo: “If Mr. President can not appoint tested aviators such as Dr Olusegun Demuren, Dr Obimuyiwa Aliu, etc. to lead the sector, he should shut down the sector.
“Aviation ministry has done more harm to the industry in all my years in the sector. I’m of the school that it should be a Department in Transportation just as it is in the US. It will have less political interference and manipulations on the Civil Aviation Authority and significantly reduce the cost of governance with already lean purse.”
For the Managing director of Centurion Security Services, Group Captain John Ojikutu; “Festus Keyamo or any other person matters less as the minister for aviation but whoever is appointed as the DG NCAA who statutorily is the Civil Aviation Responsible Authority not the Minister.
“Secondly, as far as my brain can prompt my memory, no Aviator has done a better job as a minister than many others who were not. We once had Captain Benoni Briggs formerly of Nigeria Airways and very recently Senator Hadi Sirika. Even with the eight years of Sirika, the longest time by any minister, the industry, particularly the public Agencies and private operators never had so much political interference and distortions in their operations and development from the ministry.”
Setting agenda for Keyamo, Ojikutu charged him to just remain in his office but ensure that the Airports Concessions go on as planned and forget about the plan for the so called National Carrier but make policies for Flag Carriers and leave further processes and operational regulations for the NCAA.
“The review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) should be his concern alongside the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Justice.”
A renowned union leader, Comrade Olayinka Abioy stated that, “I do hope he will shed his toga of indifference but wear that of a well cultured, civilized gentleman that he is, study well and he will enjoy the total support of all of us. It gladdens my heart that he is someone that is approachable and sensitive to issues about safety and security of the Nigerian Airspace.”
In the same vein, another Aviation expert, Mr Adeola Fadairo, the industry expects the new Minister of Aviation to recalibrate the infrastructural and the opaque ways of doing things in the industry.
“He should have an open mind on issues so as to be able to have a definitive solution to the multi-faceted problems plaguing the sector.He has his job well spelt out for him and this would test his ingenuity in delivering on the mandates sets out to do.”
Describing Aviation as a very complex and dynamic industry, he advised the new minister to consult stakeholders widely on matters that affect the industry and stamp his leadership authority within the shortest possible time.
“The industry will expect the new Minister should have an open mind on issues so as to be able to have a definitive solution to the multi-faceted problems plaguing the sector.
“He has his job well spelt out for him and this would test his ingenuity in delivering on the mandates sets out to do.”
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