Proposed national carrier can create over 200,000 jobs – Aviation union

The National Union of Air Transport Employees has expressed its support to the Federal Government’s plan to establish a new national carrier for the country.

NUATE’s Assistant General Secretary, Olayinka Abioye, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.
Abioye said when the proposed national carrier becomes operational, it would provide no less than 200,000 jobs for Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NAL was liquidated in 2004 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo had at different fora explained that his administration liquidated NAL because it was ridden with monumental corruption and that findings from his investigations showed that the company was irredeemable.
The union’s assistant scribe said: “I can tell you that if the national carrier is restored, it will provide employment opportunities for more than 200,000 people.
“Apart from those the airline will employ, there are some companies that will be performing ancillary functions to it and they will employ their own members of staff.
“So, it will be a big leap for our economy since the aviation sector is the engine room of the economy.”
Abioye, therefore, called on Nigerians and stakeholders in the aviation sector to support the government in its aspiration to set up another national carrier after the defunct Nigerian Airways Limited.
He said: “Since the defunct of NAL, Nigeria has lost so much revenue in terms of royalties.
“We have lost prestige in the comity of aviation nations and we have also lost the chance to expand our employment opportunities.”
Abioye also advised Nigerians not to panic over the recent decision by some foreign airlines to restructure their flight operations in the country.
According to him, Nigeria remains the best market for foreign airlines in the whole of Africa because of its huge population and business opportunities.
Abioye said: “The government is mindful of the current economic situation.
“I can assure you that the government is working toward deepening our process to expand the aviation industry.
“This will encourage more foreign airlines to come in.”
Abioye, however, said reviving and sustaining a national carrier was not something that could be achieved in a day.

(culled from theeagleonline.com.ng)