By Ime Akpan
Lagos
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has charged the newly inaugurated Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) committee to ensure that service delivery in the agency meets international best practices and in line with its service level agreement with customers.
Capt. Akinkuotu stated this in his remarks at the inauguration of NAMA SERVICOM Committee at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Akinkuotu who was represented the event by the director of human resources and administration, Hajia Maira Bashir, said as a service oriented agency, only excellence in service delivery can ensure that NAMA attains its vision of being a leading Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in the world.
He stressed that the task for the committee “is to monitor and ensure that fallen standards are raised and that duties are carried out effectively in an efficient manner while also providing a redress mechanism for both internal and external customers in the event of service delay or failure.”
While calling on staff to give maximum support and cooperation to the committee, Akinkuotu said the management, for its part, would provide the needed environment to ensure the success of the committee.
Also in her remarks at the event, the national coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli applauded the agency for “striving to enhance customer satisfaction through various initiatives” adding that the setting up of the SERVICOM committee is a bold step towards ensuring transparency in its operations.
She advised the agency’s management to give prompt attention to reports submitted to it by the SERVICOM unit, adding that “the effective functioning of the committee nationwide will serve as a lubricant in the service delivery chain of NAMA for smooth operations and seamless service provision leading to customer satisfaction.”
ICAO council boss hails AU Single African Air Transport Market
The council president of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu has applauded the African Union (AU) on the official launch of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Addressing African leaders at the 30th African Union (AU) Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently, Aliu said SAATM is key to the continent’s economic development adding that it represents a “historic milestone for Africa and Africans.”
“This new and more liberalized air services framework stands to deliver tremendous new economic benefits and potential to this continent. And by steadily enhancing regional and global connectivity, continent-wide, air transport has continued to foster economic growth in Africa in terms of enhanced travel and tourism and other vital trade activities,” said.
Referring to the lower than expected rates of connectivity and competitiveness still persisting regionally, Aliu underscored that aviation supports almost seven million jobs and generates more than $72 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in Africa.
“Let us acknowledge therefore, that with this launch today of the Single African Air Transport Market, we are taking together a very major step in enabling the Yamoussoukro Decision’s fuller potential, and in concretely advancing the implementation and objectives of the AU Agenda 2063.
“Certainly the 23 States which have signalled their early participation in this new market will be reaping the initial and quite significant socio-economic benefits it will help to deliver, including toward the realization of Agenda 2063 and the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals adopted under Agenda 2030,” he stressed.
Recognizing that increased African air travel demand must be commensurate with expansion and modernization of Africa’s airport and air navigation systems infrastructure, the ICAO council president encouraged African States to take pragmatic measures to build a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate to support aviation development, and to integrate aviation development planning into their national development and foreign economic cooperation platforms.
“No fewer than 24 international airports in Africa will be saturated and unable to handle more traffic in just two years’ time,” he stressed.
Aliu further underscored ICAO’s continued support to African countries, and around the world, through its No Country Left Behind initiative, the Global Plans it sets out for Aviation Safety, Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency, and most recently Aviation Security.
“In this connection, we have implemented specific programmes to assist African States including the AFI Plan and AFI SECFAL Plan and the Human Resources Development Fund to provide assistance to African States in aviation safety, security and facilitation, and training and capacity building,” he commented.
