The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a new National Aviation Policy that was last revised 11 years ago.
With this approval, a new national carrier that will be private sector driven will soon be established.
Briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, noted that a lot of developments had occurred in the aviation sector over the years.
Between the last time the policy was revised and now, she noted, “several things have taken place.
“The security situation has changed so the challenges are becoming paramount that we must be in tune with the global standards.”
Justifying the new policy further, the minister said there was the need to revise the safety regulations, technology generally, passengers rights and the guiding policy for private jets operators in the country.
She spoke further: “We also have to revise the policy to ensure that safety is given utmost importance in the way we do things.
“It is very paramount that we enhance the technology that we have within our airports.”
Elaborating more on the operation of private jets, Oduah lamented that over the years, there were no laws, policy or regulations guiding the activities of private jet owners, insisting there was the need to put in place regulations in line with international best practices.
She said: “When talk about the private jets, as of today, we have almost 100 of them and having them we have no law, no policy, no regulation really to make sure they are operating the way they should operate within ICAO laws and aviation policy.
“But most importantly, to be in tandem with global best practices.”
Other highlights of the bill, she said, was the need to promote healthy operators, adding that a new directorate that will see to economic and commercial regulations will be established.
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