The Federal government is planning to host an airshow in a bid to showcase the potential of the Nigerian aviation industry to the world.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo said the Nigerian international airshow to be held in Lagos next year, 2025
“We expect this to happen in the first quarter of 2025 and in subsequent briefings, we will announce the exact dates.
“But today is just to roll out the vision, let the world know that we are ready to roll on this massive program, and invite the world also to key into this great initiative,
“This is the first time that an international airshow will be held in Nigeria. We have been privileged to attend airshows in very advanced countries, and we know how those shows are organized.
“It brings together all stakeholders in the aviation industry, it is a place where people also cross-pollinate ideas, very modern ideas regarding aviation field.
Keyamo said “Ours will be no different. You can see in the introductory video, some of the biggest names in aviation will come to Nigeria.
“They will be displaying their services and their products. Also, it is intended to project Nigeria as the place where the next big things will happen in aviation in Africa.
“We recognize our potentials as a nation. We recognize our geographical significance also. I have said it over and over in my different engagements, that God has just blessed Nigeria naturally in terms of location, that is good for aviation, both for transit passengers and other aviation activities”.
The Minister noted; “We still face challenges here, infrastructural challenges and the size of our population in traffic. We have the ambitions, but we are still far off.
“This will help to let people come and see the kind of potentials we have so that, they can also see how they can collaborate with us to develop our infrastructure”.
He expressed government’s willingness for concession in the sector, we are going public, and I have said it over and over again, we are going to ensure that we protect our workers.
“There will be no loss of jobs. Those who are coming in for the concession must also be ready to take on the liabilities too, in terms of the workforce, and then so on and so forth.
“In the next few days, I will be holding several meetings with the unions to also carry them along with this exercise. However, just to point out this initiative will help promote what we want to do.
“So in a way, our efforts will also be on display, not just the things we are putting in the airport. The airport itself will be on display for marketing.
“We are marketing, so come and collaborate with us. This will go beyond aviation, it will also promote economic activities within Nigeria,” Keyamo stated.
