The Task before the New Aviation Minister

Our time is running short considering the presidential election is next year and the usual pre and post cabinet shakeup in our polity makes long time planning and execution a mirage. Therefore, Mr President should as a matter of urgency confirm and name our Minister, so the ball can start rolling, while he can still be ruminating on other ministries. The new minister should as a priority give NCAA the needed support as they prepare for FAA reassessment coming up in three weeks. Also, our contacts in ICAO and other bodies should be co-opted to ensure we retain our CAT 1 status, while we also do the needful with respect to the templates. The minister should as a matter of urgency convene a stakeholders meeting. All issues related to the industry will be discussed unfettered in a syndicated session and implemented, if generally accepted. The Minister should endeavour to complete on going infrastructural projects cut across the country with a proviso, which is the reassessment of the cost and quality of job done. this is necessary considering the huge expenses incurred in maintaining those that have been commisioned and the quality of materials used in others. The Minister should review our lopsided BASA agreements taking cognisance of the recent trend of using governors and politicians to blackmail the Ministry into frequency capitulation. The Minister should understand that even with our CAT 1 and other improved economic indicators, investors are still avoiding our carriers. The solution is within if we look inwards and think deep. The Minister should also take a critical review of placements, appointments and concessions that are not regular, inappropriate and transparent enough to sustain professionalism, integrity and profitability. The Minister should also as a matter of urgency take the running of the Ministry and agencies from the media, its a recent malaise that has never been seen in the industry. A cursory look at the balance sheet will give the answer. Finally, please give credit to garlands and achievements on ground, the rot proponents will come over again and say everywhere was rotten, while they have been in the system all these years. This boisterous posture attracted flack from the public The BMW scandal did not start and end with the former minister. There are other people within the system who did not uphold due process, or most importantly, defend the agencies governing act. This should not be swept under the carpet.