2 weeks ago
7
By Nnasom David
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has powerfully condemned caller comments by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu alleging that pilots and compartment unit successful Nigeria are progressive successful substance abuse.
Keyamo described the erstwhile Abia State governor’s connection arsenic “reckless, baseless, and politically motivated,” accusing him of seeking “desperate media attention.”
In a elaborate rebuttal titled “Leadership, Responsibility, and the Recklessness of Words — Setting the Record Straight connected Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s Aviation Allegations,” the Minister’s Special Adviser connected Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, said the Senator’s comments were “dangerous and susceptible of sowing panic among the traveling public.”
“It is 1 happening to telephone for higher standards; it is different to marque chaotic claims without a shred of evidence,” Moshood said.
He added that Kalu’s remarks undermined the credibility of the aviation assemblage and insulted thousands of professionals “who dedicate their lives regular to ensuring rider safety.”
The Minister’s bureau stressed that Nigeria’s aviation manufacture operates nether immoderate of the world’s strictest information regulations, with regular aesculapian and intelligence tests conducted connected each licensed aviation professionals successful enactment with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The connection besides revisited Senator Kalu’s past successful the aviation business, recalling the emergence and autumn of his defunct airline, Slok Air, founded successful 1996.
Vanguard reports that the airline, though financed successful Nigeria, operated chiefly from Banjul International Airport successful The Gambia and ceased operations successful 2008 aft fiscal and absorption challenges.
Moshood suggested that Kalu’s outburst mightiness stem from “lingering resentment of a failed aviation enterprise,” adding that it was ironic for idiosyncratic whose ain hose collapsed to impeach the existent aviation medication of negligence.
Defending Keyamo’s leadership, the connection outlined respective reforms credited to the Minister, including:
“Implementation of the IDERA Framework, which strengthened Nigeria’s craft leasing and financing standards.
“Negotiation of caller Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) to grow Nigeria’s planetary aviation partnerships.
“Consumer Protection Initiatives done a caller NCAA integer portal for rider rights. Airport Infrastructure Upgrades astatine large terminals similar the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
“Enhanced Regulatory Oversight: aligning each aviation agencies nether a unified, performance-driven vision.
“These are not the hallmarks of a strategy plagued by negligence oregon substance abuse, but alternatively of 1 being rebuilt connected integrity and planetary champion practice,” the connection emphasized.
Moshood concluded that portion constructive disapproval is invited successful a democracy, reckless statements from elder politicians could erode nationalist spot and harm Nigeria’s planetary reputation.
He urged Senator Kalu to workout restraint successful nationalist commentary, noting that the aviation assemblage “needs encouragement, not careless words that could crushed confidence.”
The station ‘He’s successful hopeless request of media attention’ — Keyamo fires backmost astatine Orji Kalu appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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