Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, (SAN), will lead aviation agencies’ Chief Executive Officers and key industry personalities and stakeholders at a discussion forum on how to wriggle the aviation sector out of the current challenges.
The forum, the 28th edition of the Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) will take place on Friday, 26th of July at the Providence Hotel in Ikeja GRA.
Daily Trust reports that the forum is coming at a time of worsening macroeconomic indices which have badly hit the airline’s sub-sector and other allied services.
The challenges include inflation, foreign exchange crisis, among others which have virtually quadrupled the cost of operation.
A statement confirming Keyamo’s participation noted that the LAAC conference, the leading discussion platform in the Nigeria aviation sector will afford the Minister the opportunity to listen to stakeholders’ inputs and garner resources from them in his desire to return the sector to the path of glory.
Keyamo said, “Stakeholders remain key component of my desire to reposition the aviation sector onto its enviable path where the industry can stand shoulder high with others on the global stage. I am aware that past recommendations from the LAAC Annual Conference have helped shape the course of the development of the sector positively.
“I have no doubt the deliberations and solutions proffer at the 2024 edition by the array of seasoned experts and stakeholders at this year’s edition will make my job as the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development a simple task”
The Minister added that the theme of the conference couldn’t have come at a better time as the ministry is poised to ensure every obstacle is addressed to reposition the sector.
A statement by the Chairman and Secretary of the organising committee, Chinedu Eze and Albinus Chiedu respectively, noted that the event will be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of CITA Group, Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe while a former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Captain Hamisu Yadudu will moderate the sessions.
Also the Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk will deliver the keynote speech while the panel session will include the Ag. Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku and Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bicourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) as members.
The duo further said a former Rector of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria, Capt Samuel Caulcrick and the Second Vice President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Alex Nwuba will be speaking.