Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, knows the aviation industry like the back of his hand. Apart from being a licensed pilot before delving into politics, he lead the Senate committee for Aviation as a member of the National Assembly. His appointment into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet was regarded a square peg in a square hole. Every since his appointment, his ministry has thrived tremendously, most especially, bouncing back Post COVID-19, creating preventive measures to ensure smooth running of business in the aviation sector.
The Katsina-born former Senator is certainly no pushover and despite being in charge of the Ministry of Aviation, his patriotic fervor sometimes make him look like he could easily handle Nigeria’s foreign ministry. His though stance on reciprocity after international travel resumed post COVID-19 on foreign airlines and countries that have been unfair to Nigerians was quite commendable. Airlines looking to resume their operations in the lucrative Nigerian market but whose home countries still had restrictions in place barring Nigerians from entering their territories were made to have a change of heart.
Despite coming under sheer criticism last year over the launched ‘Air Nigeria’ project, he has shone his brilliance in other areas of Nigeria’s aviation sector by facilitating the waiver of customs duty on aircraft and spares and pushing for the unification of charges paid by domestic airlines, many of whom are struggling to compete. A source told Society Rendezvous that; “The National Carrier launched few years ago, would be fully functional before 2023. When it kick-starts, you will be amazed at the plan. It would crash price in tickets and also enable our currency grow stronger. To the minister, Nigeria come first. It’s the main reason why Nigerian airlines were engaged by the Federal Government to evacuate stranded Nigerians abroad. Our aviation sector will reclaim its lost glory. Our national carrier, with over a 50 massive fleets of updated aircrafts will be the best in Africa.”
