The Joint National Assembly Committee on Aviation, in collaboration with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), on Wednesday, held a Strategic Stakeholders Retreat aimed at driving the transformation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The event, which took place at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja with the theme, “Reinvigorating the Aviation Industry through Strategic Stakeholders Engagement: The Role of the National Assembly”, brought together key stakeholders from the aviation sector, legislature, and other government officials, to strategise on enhancing the country’s airspace management system.
The Managing Director/CEO of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, while delivering his speech, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between stakeholders, especially the federal lawmakers, in achieving the aviation sector’s transformation goals.
Umar stressed that the agenda for such change is aligned with the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the implementation efforts of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.
He emphasised that NAMA’s role in advancing the country’s aviation sector is pivotal, adding that under his watch, the regulatory agency has achieved key milestones in airspace modernisation and safety improvements.
He, however, emphasised that to fully realise the goals, “it is essential for NAMA to strengthen its partnership with legislative bodies, particularly the National Assembly Committee on Aviation.”
The NAMA boss, therefore, called for targeted legislative support to help achieve the agency’s strategic objectives, such as enhancing airspace safety, efficiency, and technological infrastructure.
In his remarks, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, commended the ongoing transformation efforts in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Hon. Garba acknowledged the significant strides made by the Ministry of Aviation and NAMA in modernising the sector, while also emphasising the need for continued legislative intervention.
He underscored the importance of updating the legal frameworks governing the aviation industry, boosting capital provision for world-class infrastructure, and pushing for a digital transformation of Nigeria’s airspace.
Also, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, pledged the Senate’s full support for providing legislative interventions and budgetary backing to realise President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the aviation and aerospace development sector.
Senator Buhari assured that the Senate would continue to advocate for reforms that will improve Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, promote safety, and ensure economic growth.
He urged operators and regulators within the industry to prioritise safety, national security, and welfare of the citizens, while calling on all stakeholders to place these priorities at the forefront of the sector’s management, ensuring that aviation advancements are both secure and beneficial to the people of Nigeria.
“This strategic engagement aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic growth, security, and national development through innovation and modernisation.
“Additionally, it supports the transformational Legislative Agenda of the 10th National Assembly’s Aviation Committees, aimed at strengthening the sector through targeted legislative reforms and interventions,” Buhari added.
The retreat’s discussions were centered around strategic stakeholder engagement, with technical sessions covering critical areas such as the legislative governance regulatory frameworks, the importance of legislative oversight, and strategies for enhancing stakeholder coordination through the establishment of a National Legislative Consultative Forum on Aviation Sector Transformation and Growth.
This stance was unanimously endorsed by all participants as a crucial step toward addressing the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Participants appreciated the opportunity to engage with key industry stakeholders and operators, as lawmakers reiterated their commitment to amending and improving the legal framework governing the aviation sector, with a focus on safety, citizens’ welfare, and ensuring adequate budgetary allocations to improve aviation infrastructure across the country.
