FAAN,  Stakeholders Collaborate to Develop Aviation in Africa  

Chinedu Eze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said it will  collaborate  with industry stakeholders in Africa for the development of the sector on the continent.

The agency said it would continue to play a leading role in advocating collaboration among aviation stakeholders to address major challenges in development of the air transport sector in the region.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Sale Dunoma, made this known while receiving the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Sherif Fathy at the exhibition stand of FAAN at the 55th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa board meeting and Regional Conference and Exhibition taking place in Cairo, Egypt.

Dunoma said the Federal Government of Nigeria would attract private investors to partner and work with the government to explore the various opportunities in the sector.

“Nigerian airports are playing important international roles in linking the most populous country in Africa to the rest of the world, and it is constructing four new terminals to increase its capacity for facilitation and processing,” he said.

Earlier, while declaring the conference open, Fathy said that his country was planning to boost capacities of its key airports.

Also, the Director-General of ACI worldwide, Angela Gittens said the theme of the conference, “Economic Sustainability of African airports: Challenges and Opportunities” would address improvements in aviation safety and security in the light of new threats affecting the industry.

In his welcome address, President of ACI Africa, Pascal Komla had noted that the conference provided a unique opportunity for aviation executives, experts and exhibitors from across the globe to network, share information and forge a common vision for the future businesses of African airports.

The 55th ACI Africa Board meeting and regional conference and exhibition presented a platform for industry experts to come together and  discuss  the challenges faced by the continent and find solutions that would boost the economic growth of Africa.