FILE PHOTO: A man counts U.S. dollar banknotes next to Lebanese pounds at a currency exchange shop in Beirut, Lebanon April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
By Habibat Aliu
At least three trainer airplanes worth $1 billion have been grounded at the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, Kwara State, over the paucity of funds and a foreign exchange liquidity crisis.
The equipment joined the IAC fleet as brand new a couple of years ago, at the estimated cost of $350 million each.
Officials confirmed that the state-owned aviation college has six Diamond aircraft in active service for budding pilots, availability of foreign exchange would revive the grounded aircraft to life and boost available training resources.
The under-utilized capacity, as evident during a tour of the college, yesterday, attests to the growing effects of the foreign exchange crisis in aviation in particular, and the economy in general.
Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Afeez Alabi, at the opening of a training program for aviation journalists at the college, said the government had given the college the attention it deserves.
Alabi said the aviation industry is capital intensive but “as a responsible government, the state has placed an order for more equipment for the school”.
He said: “What we have found in Nigeria today (as an aviation industry) is not impressive. It is not where we are supposed to be. But I thank the operators for doing a great job. As a college, the government has greatly improved its status. We have placed an order for more equipment and will continue to do more.”
The Commissioner added that the state government had taken aviation as pivotal to the development of the state. According to him, 50 per cent of the new orders had arrived at the college, assuring that the school would witness new growth in the New Year.
It was learned that the state government recently placed an order for Diamond 40 aircraft engine and propeller aircraft, which are already at the college’s hangar. The government also purchased 10,000 liters of Jet A1 for the college, while it renovated its fuel dump.
Alabi said: “This is a sector that should be a booster to the economy of the country. We all need to form a synergy that will take this sector to where it should be. We have the continuity of government in Kwara State. Before the end of this year, there will be some positive news about this college,” he assured.
Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu reiterated that the aviation industry is dynamic and to keep abreast of the latest developments, innovations, and trends in the sector, all players needed continued human capacity development.
He lauded the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) for the concerted and consistent efforts at providing robust reportage and professional coverage of every development in the industry, which he said had aided the growth and development of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
He added: “We, at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, consider training (including initial, on-the-job, and recurrent train, ing) as a key component of aviation development in Nigeria. In fact, training and retraining, can be likened to capital project as it is critical to our operations as the apex regulatory Authority for Civil Aviation.
“The authority’s personnel are exposed to appropriate training all over the world to enhance and maintain their skills and competence. On the other hand, you will all agree with me that it is a statement of facts, that the media is critical to the growth of global aviation in general and Nigeria in particular.”
He appealed to journalists, especially LAAC members, to eschew sensationalism that is capable of putting the aviation sector in bad light and impact ing negatively on democracy.
