The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), has promised to boost the capacity of its personnel and deploy modern equipment to enhance safety of the flying public.
AIB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akin Olateru, said this on Friday in Abuja, while receiving “Aviation CEO of the Year in Nigeria 2021” award from the Wonders of Nigeria Expo, the 8th Abuja JABAMAH 2022.
Olateru said the move being made by AIB would promote Nigeria`s integrity among the nations.
“I am humbled and honoured by the award. It is a sign that the world recognises what we are doing at the office.
“We put in our best to ensure we deliver our core mandate which is investigating accidents and serious incidents.
“We also make sure we contribute our quotas to make sure the airspace in Nigeria is a safer place for a flying public,” he said.
Olateru called on state governments to promote tourism and infrastructure development, among others.
“Every state has a major role to play when we talk of tourism, not only the Federal Government. In my own opinion, states have a lot to do and will definitely benefit by boosting the tourism sector in their states.
“Infrastructure, security has something to do with tourism. I believe every state should key into it, down to the local government level, to collectively grow tourism in Nigeria,” he said.
The AIB boss, who described the event as highly educative, urged the organiser to do more of such, to grow the industry in the country.
“The occasion of this nature is to bring people together and to learn by exposing other things.
“I will encourage the organiser to keep it up because it is a very good way to support and grow the industry,” he said.
Mr Ikechi Uko, organiser of the event, said the cost of travelling by air ought to be reduced in the country.
He urged the federal government to consider removal of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for fully vaccinated passengers coming or going out of the country.
This, according to him, will reduce the cost of travelling for air passengers.
“We need to reduce the cost of travelling in Nigeria. You either remove the PCR test for fully vaccinated passengers coming or going out or you reduce the cost.
“A hundred dollars going and a hundred dollars coming back is very expensive.”
He said that Nigeria should consider removing such costs as some other countries were doing.
“Officially speaking, COVID has come down in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr George Uriesi, Ibom Air Chief Operating Officer, called on relevant authorities to address the unjustified increase in aviation fuel.
According to him, the increase in aviation fuel has affected the nation`s economy badly.
“I believe that the price increase of fuel is not justified. Whatever causes cartel artificially climbing prices every day is causing severe damage to the economy of our country.
“Therefore, something needs to be done about it by all the authorities that are responsible for making people behave normally,” he said.
