FG renews pledge to provide enabling environment for investors in aviation industry

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Federal Government has renewed its pledge to provide enabling environment for investors in the civil aviation sector.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, Mr. James Odaudu, that the Federal Government was ready to provide support and enabling environment to investors eager to invest in civil aviation.

The Minister made this pledge during his inspection of aviation facilities at the Caverton Helicopters headquarters in Lagos facilities which comprise of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) outlet being built by the company and a newly acquired simulator for the training of pilots.

Sirika also noted that one of the primary objectives of the federal government was to provide full support to entrepreneurs in a bid to provide the needed services and employments for people.

According to Sirika; “this is exactly what is happening here at Caverton Helicopters; I am willing to continue to support Caverton and other investors in civil aviation.

“The ministry is reorientating civil aviation bodies, who are regulators, to shift focus of being police in the industry to being enabler in the industry.

“This is to create partnership that will help the industry and provide service and employment for our people to kick start the economy and add to the GDP of the country”.

He maintained that investments in civil aviation by Caverton Helicopters would boost employment opportunities for the people as well as provide other services in Nigeria.

Furthermore, Sirika pointed out the services in the sector were dominated by foreigners before now, hence the support of Caverton Helicopters’ Investment.

He added the massive investments by the organisation would bridge the gap by creating space for the country to participate.

He, however, applauded the management of Caverton Helicopters for the foresight and decision to participate in civil aviation industry.

Meanwhile, the Group Chairman, Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, in his reaction said the guidance of the aviation agencies under the ministry helped the organisation a lot to achieve the feat.

He noted that Caverton’s commitment to fully partnering with the ministry to achieve its developmental objectives was topmost on the company’s agenda.

“The facility will also ensure capacity development and stop capital flight. We know other industry participants spend millions of dollars flying out their pilots for capacity training in various simulators all around the world.

“Caverton has an annual budget of over $3 millions spent for flying pilots to various facilities in Dubai, United State of America, Europe for training.

“There are no many Helicopter training facilities around the world, this one in Nigeria will definitely bring in a lot of capital in flow to the country,” Makanjuola said