Minister of State Aviation, Sen.Hadi Sirika, has stated that government would give consideration to requests by serious foreign airlines for increased flight frequencies as long as the nation’s interests are not compromised.
This is even as the federal government has promised to improve the economic and operational viability of the nation’s designated international airports by creating the enabling environment for international airlines operating in Nigeria to use them.
Sirika, who made these promises while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil in his office, said the nation’s relationship with foreign airlines would be based strictly on the Bilateral Air Services Agreements with the Airline’s home governments.
He informed the Ambassador of government’s determination to revamp the aviation sector through the concessioning of its airports, beginning with “the big four” in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
In his remark, the Turkish Ambassador, Hakan Cakil told the Minister that he was in the Ministry to express his country’s gratitude for the excellent relationship between the two countries, especially in the aviation sector, and to explore more areas of cooperation.
The Minister has promised to do whatever it takes to make domestic airlines more competitive with their foreign counterparts in the airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims.
Reacting to a request by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Dr Tor Uja said the primary purpose of the ministry was to promote the development of the sector and supporting local airlines to operate in the best possible environment.
