Upgrade our airports, Senate committee urges Minister

The Chairman Senate committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma on Tuesday expressed concern that some of the country’s airports are not certified according to the standards of international aviation regulatory agencies.
Mr Uzodinma, who noted this at the budget defence session of the ministry of aviation, asked the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah to ensure that the 2013 budget is used to address the issue of certification of airports and rehabilitating airport infrastructure.
The Senator said it is ‘’very sad that most of our airports are not certified in accordance with ICAO standards. We must therefore do everything possible to get them certified’’.
He said other areas which deserve serious attention; and upon which government must find a way to fund in the 2013 budget is capacity building and training of professionals/experts by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), airfield lighting as well the maintenance of the runways.
He emphasised that the Senate and the Ministry must collectively work together to ensure that the 2013 budget improves upon the achievements recorded in 2012 in order to be able to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians who not only expect functional facilities at the airports, but also that Aviation plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the nation.
‘’Let me say that our watch-word for year 2013 budget is must be prudence; realistic, tenacious and accountable execution of capital projects’’, the chairman added.
Mrs Oduah assured the committee that airport certification and modernization are key priorities in the ministry’s 2013 budget.
The Minister said Nigerian airports lack adequate fire cover, efficient airspace communication infrastructure, water hydrant, fire fighting vehicles, airfield lighting, while poor security of the airport, coupled with lack of perimeter fencing, among others, are factors militating against standard airport system stipulated by the global aviation regulatory body.
No airport in Nigeria has met the requirements for certification.
The Minister, in her presentation of the 2013 budget to the committee lamented that it was unacceptable that airports in the country are not certified.