The Senate Committee on Aviation has expressed readiness interest to convert the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria into the African International University of Aviation.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after leading the committee on a facility tour of the college in Zaria.
He said sophisticated equipment and aircraft maintenance facility coupled with the infrastructural development in the college could better be used for university training of students in the aviation industry.
He said his committee was optimally satisfied with the high level training equipment and facility in the college as well as maintenance culture in the college.
The committee vowed to use legislative instruments to ensure quick upgrade of the college to a full-fledged university of aviation.
The lawmaker further stated that, already, a bill on the upgrade of the aviation college before the committee had passed a second reading.
Briefing the committee earlier, the outgoing Rector of the College, Captain Abdussalam Mohammed said part of the achievements recorded included the re-fleeting of training Aircraft (Diamond DA 40ng and DA 42ng), the procurement of 7 brand new training Aircrafts with additional two delivered recently.
Others were the supply and installation of Boeing 727ng full flight simulator and ILS for flight training.
Captain Mohammed however said the institute was faced with inadequate budgetary allocation, shortfall in annual budget releases and inadequate specialised man-power.
He hoped that, having gone round the college, the committee would legislate to address the challenges.
The Smart Adeyemi led-committee had other members including; Senators Bala ibn Na’Allah, Tokumbo Abiru and Ezikiya Adinka.
