A total amount of N4 billion has been approved by the federal government of Nigeria to support the aviation sector to recover from the challenges it went through as a result of COVID-19.
This was made known by Hadi Sirika, Minister of aviation when he stood before a panel that was meeting to review some laws that affect the sectors of the aviation ministry. These sectors include; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The chairman of the aviation committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, however said that the amount was too small because the aviation ministry has been hit very hard by COVID-19 and will need more money to recover.
Airlines were shut down in response to the outbreak of corona virus and flights only resumed last September.
Mr. Adeyemi said; “[The] N4 billion is very little to solve some of the problems of the airlines who are battling to survive. We urge the government to take charge of the sector.
They need to give them more and they also need to support in all ways. The airlines are in business but we cannot continue to look at them without offering them assistance.
I am not comparing Nigeria with the United States, but I think we can do better than the N4 billion we are assisting them with.”
