Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stressed that strategic investment in human capacity is vital for Nigeria to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving global aviation industry.
Keemo made the comment while declaring open the 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The program themed “The Human Age: Capacity Building in Next Generation Air Traffic Management” is in line with the Minister's five-point agenda, which outlines the federal government's commitment to strengthening human capacity and promoting innovation in the aviation sector.
Also read: Shortage of air traffic controllers in aviation sector – Keemo
In a statement signed by Odutayo Oluseyi, the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the ministry, Keyamo commended NATCA for its steadfast dedication to safety, professionalism and operational excellence in air traffic management.
Reiterating that human capacity remains the most critical component of aviation safety and efficiency, he pledged the Ministry's continued support to create an enabling environment for the training, retraining and development of aviation professionals.
“As the global aviation industry evolves towards next generation air traffic management systems, Nigeria must strategically invest in its workforce to remain competitive and in line with international standards,” the minister said.
Keemo also highlighted the government's ongoing measures to address the workforce shortage in the aviation sector, especially among air traffic controllers and other technical professionals.
Recall that during the unveiling of Africa's first privately owned aeronautics university, the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), he had revealed that the ministry had to retain and recall retired personnel to fill critical gaps.
“I want to say that we are short of staff in some areas of aviation, especially air traffic controllers. They are highly skilled professionals, and it takes time to train them. That is why we have had to call back retired staff to bridge the gap while developing new capacity,” he explained.
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According to him, the establishment of IBUAM is a strategic step towards addressing these challenges, as it is in line with the Federal Government’s vision of building local capacity, reducing reliance on expatriate expertise and preparing the continent’s workforce for the future of aviation.
The 54th NATCA AGM provides a platform for air traffic controllers, regulators and aviation experts to deliberate on issues affecting the profession and develop strategies to improve operational efficiency, safety and service delivery in Nigeria's airspace.
