President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will continue to invest in providing aviation infrastructure for the safe, secure, environmentally friendly and sustainable economic development of international civil aviation.

The president made the commitment on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the president of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Salvatore Sciacchitano, on Wednesday.

While recalling the long history between Nigeria and ICAO, Mr Buhari said, “Nigeria has been a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) since 1962 and has continued to make valuable contributions to the ICAO Council’s work and its activities. This country has been playing a key role in supporting the implementation of ICAO Policies and Programmes internationally, and particularly in the African region.”

He added, “To this end, Nigeria has ratified all international air law instruments like the Montreal Protocol and amendments to some articles of the Chicago Convention.”

Mr Buhari told his guest that Nigeria was championing the cause of Aviation safety, security and facilitation in Africa.

“I have recently signed into law Civil Aviation Act 2022. This is to reposition the industry to ensure continuous compliance with ICAO standards and to meet the challenges of a dynamic and rapidly growing air transport sector,” he said. 

The president further revealed that he had also approved the establishment of Aviation and Aerospace University in Abuja to cater to research and development in the sector and the managerial challenges. 

“In this regard, Nigeria has already started receiving the support of ICAO members like Qatar under the No Country Left Behind Initiative,” said Mr Buhari. 

(NAN)