No aviation agency benefited from N5bn palliative — NCAT rector

The Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Capt Abdulsalami Mohammed, has said none of the aviation agencies benefited from the N5 billion COVID-19 stimulus package the federal government recently released to operators.

In a chat in Abuja, Mohammed said the N5bn went to airline operators and the support services providers in the industry.

• NCAA D-G to aviation stakeholders: We don’t want blood on our hands
• Deadly second wave of COVID-19 and youth vulnerability

Although some operators accused the government of giving some of the funds to agencies in the aviation sector too, said, “I don’t think any government institution benefited from the palliative. NCAT didn’t. I know that other agencies didn’t. The money was for the airlines: scheduled and non-scheduled airlines. And then the support services for the industry like caterers, fuellers and others also benefited.”

He further said, “The palliative was just to cushion the effect because a lot of the companies were complaining of their inability to pay wages. The money was to cater for the welfare of the staff and not to buy airplanes or pay for maintenance services or whatever.”

He noted that the government could not do more because of its financial position.

Capt Mohammed who has clocked four years in office also spoke about the achievements of the agency as the foremost manpower trainer in the aviation industry.

He said, “We had to look at ways to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and some of the measures that were introduced were the off-site training.

“We have realised that most of the aviation personnel are in Lagos and are reluctant to come to Zaria. Some were reluctant to stay for long periods. We introduced these off-site courses in Lagos where these aviation professionals can have courses specifically designed for them, part time – in the evenings when they close from work or at weekends.”