Oduah, reforms and the need for sustenance
On Wednesday February 12, 2014, Princess Stella Oduah resigned from her position as the minister of aviation after serving for about two years. She resumed work as the minister of aviation on July 2, 2011.
As it should be expected, many people view the ex-minister and her activities at the aviation sector from various perspectives. Some people see her as a hero that changed the face of the aviation sector, while others regard her as an embezzler of public fund.
During her short tenure, Oduah has embarked on some ambitious projects and reforms aimed at transforming the Nigerian aviation sector. These projects, a lot of them still at various stages of completion, stakeholders fear may be abandoned. In the past, several initiatives introduced in the industry resulted in no identifiable and or tangible benefits.
Key among the projects and initiatives the minister started is the Aviation Master Plan and Road Map, approved by President Jonathan in January 2012, aimed at turning around Nigeria’s aviation industry. It defined in specific terms the future sustainability of aviation sector in Nigeria. The roadmap addressed issues like the aerotropolis initiative, the perishable cargo terminals, safer skies, new terminal facilities, opening up of new international routes - with Kano and Enugu already working and the construction of five brand new terminals.
Some of these facilities handled by the different agencies under the ministry and already deployed include: NIMET: installed 2 Doppler Weather Radar, had none before now and two more underway; its Upper Air Weather Monitoring Equipment, improved to 8 from 5; the Thunderstorm/Lightning Detector Systems, hitherto in 6 locations but now in 20; among others.
Also the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) saw its Flight Tracking System deployed; Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) successfully deployed, two airlines got IOSA Certification under its watch and it also successfully implemented the consumer protection bill.
These efforts are aimed at repositioning the sector ‘to become a provider of safe, secure and comfortable air transport that is self-sustaining, attract foreign investments and is pivotal to the Nigeria’s socio-economic growth far removed from the rot, decay and dilapidation of the sector from result of decades of neglect.
Some of the 22 airports the ex-minister began to remodel include; the General Aviation Terminals (GAT) in Abuja and Lagos already commissioned. Others are Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Benin Airport, Ilorin International Airport, Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri and Akunu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Others still at various stages of completion are the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (some wings like the E-wings is completed and in use), the Yola International Airport, Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, Port Harcourt International Airport, Margate Epko International Airport Calabar, Akure Airport, Ibadan Airport, Maiduguri International Jos International Airport, and the Benin International Airport among others.
Some other five new internationals terminals are also sprouting out in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. The airports are being developed with a $500 million low interest facility secured form the China government.
The 22 airports being remodeled would cost tax payers some N38 billion but based on the economic projections, these airports will be earning in excess N150 billion annually.
The perishable cargo terminals are to be located in Makurdi, Jalingo, Jos, Minna, Kaduna, Yola, Sokoto, Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Akure and Kano.
The economic benefit from the reforms in the aviation industry, when completed, will indeed be huge.
Based on the economic benefits from these projects and policies, some stakeholders are worried the projects may be abandoned with hug economic loss. Thus, they have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to see that the projects reached their logical conclusion.
Though Princess Oduah had assured that no project she started will be abandoned, that is difficult to believe, considering the country’s penchant to abandon projects. From the other angle, the oppositions to the ex-minister were not convinced that her reforms should earned her longer period to remain in the office due to the cars scandals. The House agreed that Oduah breached the 2013 Appropriation Act and asked Jonathan to sack her for approving the expenditure of over N643m for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to procure 54 vehicles this year.
The spokesman for the House, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, when contacted, explained that the lawmakers wanted the minister sacked.
The House noted that her approval limit as a minister was N100m.
It added that the agency purchased two bulletproof BMW cars at the cost of N255m without the approval of the National Assembly.
Also, among the groups that called for the sack of the minister was The Patriots, a pro-Nigeria interest group.
In a statement signed by Rose Ibebaku, the group warned “all the high and mighty whose family and friends, constitutes the bulk of air transport passengers in Nigeria to wake up from their slumber and immediately reverse the unfolding ugly trend being spurned by Mrs Oduah by calling her to order.”
It said, “more innocent bloods will be shed and Nigeria thrown into international embarrassment any moment from now as a result of unending breach of every aviation rules and ethics,” by the Oduah-led aviation ministry.
Commenting, Engr. Sheri Kyari, the Executive Director of Centre for Aviation Safety and Research (CAS-R) said the minister’s leaving may affect the transformation in the aviation industry but quickly added that if the next minister continues with the programmes already started, the industry and Nigeria would be the better for it.
Also Members of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) called for the completion of all ongoing projects started upon by Princess Stella Oduah.
Rising from a meeting, Saturday, in Lagos the air transport workers also said they were ready to work with the government to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects in the aviation sector for the benefit of Nigerians.
The President of ATSSSAN Comrade Benjamin Okewu and Deputy National Secretary Tarnongu Captain said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the exit of Princess Stella Oduah does not, in any way, affect the aviation industry.
A cross section of air passengers who spoke to our correspondent in Lagos also called for the projects to be completed to specification and on schedule.
Rachael Mafiana, a fashion designer and passenger, said she noticed airports like Abuja and Lagos have witnessed significant changes, saying that development should not be halted just because the minister is no more in office. Government, she said, is continuous thus, good policies must be sustained.
Another Passenger, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, also called for the projects to be sustained and completed. He particularly called for the Sokoto, Yola and Kano International Airports project be completed in good time.
He said it would be bad image for President Jonathan if he abandoned the projects princess Oduah started. He noted that the projects are in all the six geopolitical zones and abandoning them may be politically suicidal for the president.
But, will the projects be completed or abandoned? Only time can answer such a difficult question.