Nnaji lauds FG over planned re-opening of airports

 Chairman House Committee on Aviation Nnolim Nnaji has  commended the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies for the safety measures put in place in preparations for the reopening of some airports for flight operations.
He stressed that, ” as the nation prepares to gradually open up the air space, Nigerians should be rest assured that the House Committee on Aviation will in line with our oversight mandate, continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Aviation and other critical stakeholders not only to ensure smooth resumption of flight operations but strict observance of safety protocol to contain the pandemic in aviation industry “
Nnaji equally acknowledged the successful flight simulation carried out between Abuja and Lagos  by  the Ministry at the weekend to test run the various security arrangements put in place  in line with the set guidelines issued by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 to safeguard air travellers.
“The test flight which  conveyed members of the Taskforce from Abuja to Lagos to assess the various safety measures put in place was necessary to ascertain the safety operational standards of the airports and  we are satisfied with the progress and commitment of critical stakeholders in the whole arrangement”.
” Am particularly thrilled by the use of robots to profile passengers and the use of facemasks by passengers for security checks and identification during the flight which showed that the industry was fully determined to provide world standard practice in maintaining first class safety guards at our airports as we gradually reopen some airports to unlock the economy.”
Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the House of Representatives assured the Ministry and its agencies of his committee’s support in ensuring that that industry is rejuvenated as soon as possible because of its pivotal role in the stimulation of the economy.
He also stated that his committee will work closely with the Ministry and its agencies to monitor the progress of the entire operations stressing that the success of the first phase of the reopening would determine how soon  the entire industry would be unlocked.
He reiterated his call for the quick release of grant promised to the sector by the Federal Government to enable the industry bounce back strongly adding that over three months shutdown of flight operations has taken a devastating impact on all the agencies because over 90 percent of their internally generated revenues were dependent on charges directly or indirectly connected to fight operations.
Nnaji further appealed to citizens who have no businesses to do at the airports to stay away to avoid unnecessary crowding when the airports reopen stressing that “corona virus is real and we must exercise evey precaution to stay safe”.
The Aviation Committee Chairman equally urged the Ministry and its relevant agencies to ensure that adequate personnel are deployed to the airports soon to be reopened to maintain crowd control and appropriate distancing both at the screen points and the boarding gates.
Wole Shadare