IKEJA – The Ministry of Aviation on Thursday in Lagos asked the Sky Catering Company Ltd. to explain the use of its facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport by an airline.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Yemi Adelakun, demanded the explanation during a tour of some facilities at the airport.
Adelakun directed the company to forward to the ministry, details of any approval by government for such purpose if it existed.
The Permanent Secretary, who spoke with newsmen after the inspection tour, said the company had not remitted to the ministry money that was collected on the lease of the facility.
“We are trying to see how we can take the aviation sector to the next level, so we want to go back and see the wrongs of the past and see where we can correct them.
“This is why we decided to come for this tour to see for ourselves what is on ground. In fact, this used to be Nigerian Airways’ property (Sky Power catering services) and we want to see what has become of it.
“We are also looking at the possibility of bringing back our national carrier, if Gabon or Gambia can have their airways, why not Nigeria?
“We are not doing magic but we want to start; if we start it today, if we cannot complete it in the next six months, somebody else will continue from where we stop,’’ he said. [eap_ad_1] Adelakun said that the ministry had to secure the airspace, saying it was concerned about making the country’s airport a hub in the sub-region.
He said that safety and security of the sector should be foremost to enable the industry attain a world standard.
“We cannot be as big as this and allow Togo to take over the hub from us, it is not acceptable. And all the foreign airlines are making a lot of money out of Nigeria.
“We are complaining about employment, this is an industry that can employ so many Nigerians, so we want to bring that back,’’ he said.
The permanent secretary said that the Ministry had started the digitalisation of service in the sector to enable passengers with complaints to have a place to report. (NAN)
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