Osinbajo: FG to Bring Down Cost of Aviation Fuel

*Advocates devt of alternative to counter terrorism

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said the aviation industry would play a significant role in the economic development of Nigeria and hence, the federal government was making conscious efforts to bring down the cost of aviation in the country.

Osinbajo, according to a statement by his media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, last night, made the remark while receiving a delegation of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) led by its President, Olumuyiwa Aliu, in the State House, Abuja.

According to him, when the cost of the fuel is reduced, the scope of air trips would be widened.
“We believe that aviation cost will go down and that more people will participate, more people will use the services of the airlines and people will use the airports as well,” he was The statement also said Osinbajo advocated the need for development and dissemination of alternative and counter narratives to challenge terrorism and violent extremism.

It said he made the remark while receiving a delegation of the World Leadership Alliance  also known as Club de Madrid led by two former African Presidents, Festus Mogae of Botswana and Cassa Muttem of Mauritus, and a delegation of the Malala Fund which also paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa.
“With respect to violent extremism I am pleased you are taking it on. It is a very complex problem for those of us who have to deal with it on a daily basis.

“There is no question that we need to develop counter-narratives. We are faced with emotive narratives and its now about getting people to understand through counter-narratives that there is a different way to get things done,” he said.

The statement said Club de Madrid, whose membership includes former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had presented to him the report of a workshop it conducted in Nigeria earlier this year on the issue of alternative narratives to counter violent extremism.

It also said Mogae who presented the report told Osinbajo that the objective of the World Leadership Alliance was to promote democracy and consequently organised a workshop involving all stakeholders and the presidency’s Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to address the issue of violent extremism.
On Malala’s visit, Akande said the acting president commended the young girl, saying “your story is an inspiration for not only young women around the world but for us all,” adding: “Your ability to articulate issues and the courage to face down hatred and terrorism is widely acknowledged.”

He said the acting president observed that while there was a connection between terrorism and poverty and ignorance, the challenge posed by terrorism on a global scale was much deeper.

‘We have to change the mindset and delegitimise the false ideas and notions of hatred and violence.
“Getting people to enroll in school is the easier part of the problem. The bigger one is to ensure that we don’t promote the mindset that girls are in anyway inferior and all that,” he said.