The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has stepped down the implementation of the Oransanye’s reports which recommended the merger of federal government agencies and parastatals.
TheHintsNews reports that for the aviation sector, the report recommended the merger of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Since the reports was submitted, the Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari administration did not consider the implementation of the report.
TheHintsNews reports that in February 2024, President Bola Tinubu ordered the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.
Consequently, it announced the merging, subsuming, scraping and relocation of several agencies of government.
However, Speaking at the 25th year anniversary and award night of NCAA in Abuja, Keyamo said NCAA and NAMA would not longer be merged.
His words: “From the story of the former minister, I am sure you have seen that the NCAA is a child of God that despite turbulent waters, an attempt sometimes to kill the NCAA, the NCAA have survived 25 years.
“And I am sure you know that any child that was born 25 years ago, that undoubtedly is at the age of maturity by then you should have graduated, served and would have started working, so 25 years is the age of maturity.
“But let me tell you my small story, all this prepared speech I don’t like them. Unknown to a few people. you know the Oronsanya’s Report recommended the merger of NCAA and NAMA and so that was another attempt to kill the NCAA.
“That report was passed on from Jonathan’s government to Buhari’s government and then to the present government. And so throughout the tenure of Buhari’s government, we couldn’t consider that report.
“Coincidentally, I was the only surviving minister till this government so I was part of that government and it came up in few times in council, but we couldn’t consider it but guess what, it was considered in this government, so the report came up that day and I was ready with my battle axe.
“So, the president went on and on to consider every item in the Oronsanya’s Report, ask the council to vote and so they came to a conclusion and the president said merger of NCAA and NAMA and I raised my hand and said, no.
“I spoke for about 5 minutes and because we have a president who listens to good counsel and good arguments, after I finished speaking he said item dropped, NCAA and NAMA would not be merged
“So sir, likes good son, the baton you passed on to your son, I kept the baton alive by making sure that the NCAA did not die if not, by now we will be talking about the merger of NCAA and NAMA,” Keyamo stated.
Speaking, former Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation, Dr. Harold Demuren, tasked the federal government to sustain the training of NCAA for safer civil aviation in Nigeria.
On behalf of all the past DGs, he commended the current NCAA DG. Capt. Chris Najomo for also prioritising the security safety of the aviation industry.
“Let me give you one word, human capacity is critical. Aviation is changing. Technology is changing everywhere. What we were doing before isn’t what we are doing now. Don’t look at anybody. Training and continuous training is very important.
“Without that, you can’t achieve anything. Foreign training costs a lot of money, not just in estacodes and tickets but time too. You must continue to do it. If you continue to do it Hon. Minister, you will have safer skies” he stated.