Renowned Nigerian political economist, a professor and a member of the Labour Party, Pat Utomi, and the President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Gabriel Olowo, have said the Nigeria needs an efficient inter-modal transport system to drive economic growth especially in the aviation and tourism sectors.
Speaking on Thursday in Lagos during the quarterly Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative Business Breakfast Meeting themed: ‘Aviation in Nigeria Beyond 2023 General Election Challenges & Prospects’, Utomi said no serious governments in the world plan their economies around transport infrastructure because it is a hook to development.
According to him, Asian countries like Dubai and Singapore and others have built their economies around the aviation sectors, with mega carriers like Emirates Airlines, Singapore Airlines transporting huge numbers of tourists to the countries and also boosting and their aviation and tourism sectors.
Utomi stated that Nigerian Airways in its hay days was far ahead of these carriers and could have done better if it was well managed.
He affirmed that all theories of economic development without a special plan for transportation is incomplete adding that we need an inter-modal transportation system in Nigeria”
“He said: “Records have it that we have improved in the aviation industry but we are far from where we should be. Yes, plans are not falling the skies like they used to do before, but there is much work yet to be done.
“Serious governments plan affective transport infrastructure system because they know it is a hook to economic development. Without the airline business, there will not be Dubai or Singapore. These countries built their economies around the aviation industry with carriers like the Emirates Airlines and Singapore Airlines. What is so difficult about having a airport that functional? Our airport can be better than Heathrow Airport.
“All we need is an inter-modal transport system in Nigeria. The aviation sector is not generating the foreign exchange it should be generating.”
“We have a humongous coastline that is yet to be tapped, this is a massive tourism potential not being utilized.”
Also speaking at the event, Gabriel Olowo, president, ASRTI, said inter-modal connectivity is important to the aviation industry, noting that the light rail line in Abuja does not connect to the airport terminal building.
The President while identifying serious issues affecting the aviation industry also condemned the strike embarked by aviation union workers which brought untold hardship to air travellers in the country.
He said: “Questions calling for answers amidst the avoidable negligence include: who takes responsibility for the financial losses airlines and service providers incurred during the recent strike that disrupted business activities at the airport? Poor communication and crisis management exacerbated the strike’s collateral damages.
“A domestic carrier reportedly lost 500 million Naira due to MM2’s abrupt shutdown. Pending Issues in the Nigerian Aviation Industry. The ART strongly condemns the strike and management’s inadequate response. With apologies, adequate compensation should be provided to all parties affected. Regrettably, if “the plan of change is not higher than the pain of remaining the same, people don’t change.”
“The New Airport Terminal Building in LOS commissioned by the President last year was said to have had an aircraft apron for parking, ditto one in ABV obstructing the control tower. The light rail line in ABV does not connect to the airport terminal building either. Were there no plans before these projects were executed? Pending Issues in the Nigerian Aviation Industry One can only hope the newly commissioned Blue and Red Line Rails in Lagos would share links with the airport terminal buildings.”
