By Aminat Ibrahim
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated modern aircraft equipment, Magnus Aircraft Assembly, among over 40 other projects executed at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria.
Inaugurating the projects virtually, President Buhari, said the projects were to strengthen the efficiency and security of the aviation sector.
He added that Nigeria has successfully implemented a roadmap which made the aviation, a fastest growing sector of the economy prior to COVID-19.
Buhari said that government under his watch has constructed three airport terminals which aided over 40 million passengers capacity to Nigerian airports.
The president added that his Government also focuses on the NCAT to further transform the college and make it an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) center of excellence for Africa.
He said that the projects inaugurated were critical to the development of Aviation sector and expressed optimism that the incoming administration would sustain the tempo, while the runway of the college will be extended and rebuild.
Prof. Mansir Matazu, Director General of NIMET, physically inaugurated the projects on behalf of the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
The Minister noted that the college, established in the 1960s was an engine room of the aviation sector in the region.
He noted that for the college to attain the ICAO certification as Center of Excellence, government needs to provide infrastructure such as the projects inaugurated by the President.
He said that government has procured 20 diamond aircraft, Magnus Aircraft Assembly, Boeing 737 simulators and other equipment to enhance the college.
The Minister added that strengthening the college had enabled it to cater for the rising number of Nigerians, who showed interest in the aviation industry.
Adding that government has also established the Aviation University to further absolved the graduates from the college.
In his remarks, Capt. Alkali Modibbo, the Chief Executive of the College, said that improvement from government has made the college to achieve the ICAO Platinum status which was the highest grade any institution of aviation can get.
He added that from 2015 to 2019, the college maintained the highest number of trained instructors; that status declined in 2020/2021 due to COVID-19.
According to him, in 2022 and 2023, the college highest classroom live rage by ICAO.
He described the college as a mother in Aviation Sector, adding that it takes few participants and within few times it delivers pilot, air traffic controllers, cabin crews, aviation managers, among others.
“With this inauguration of projects, the college would increase intake of participants.
“The federal government has subsidised the courses at the college to enable average Nigerian become an aviator,”Alkali said.
He commended the minister for working tirelessly and continually to implement the roadmap of the Sector.
The projects inaugurated at the college; include an Ultra-Modern Auditorium Complex, Automated Fire and Smoke Aircraft Training Simulator.
Others are: Boeing 737 flight Simulator Building, Boeing 737NG full flight simulator, Boeing 737NG integrated procedural trainer, among others.
