The Federal Capital Territory Administration says one of the major benefits of its massive investments in the completion of ongoing projects is to position the city to become a major conference hub not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello stated this when he received members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that paid him a courtesy visit.
He welcomed news of the International World Aviation Forum scheduled for Abuja for the 20th of November this year, and assured the delegation that the Administration was ready to assist the Forum through provision of logistics support.
The Minister expressed hope that the city would be better positioned to play a good host considering its ongoing efforts to complete critical infrastructural projects that would ease travel in and around the city.
Malam Bello applauded the rising profile of Nigeria’s representative in ICAO – Captain Nuhu Musa, who has risen to the position of Second Vice President of ICAO, saying “you and Amina Mohammed (the Deputy Secretary General of the UN) represent the highest level of international technocrats we have in Africa currently.”
He appealed to the Forum to use their positions to attract technical know-how, foreign direct investments and business linkages for the overall economic development of the country.
The FCT Minister commended the efforts of the Minister of State Aviation for delivering on the repair of Abuja International Airport by delivering on the repair of its runway earlier than the six weeks scheduled period.
Leading the delegation, the Honourable Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said the body rose from a symposium on drones held in Abuja to pay a courtesy call on the Minister.
He noted that unmanned aviation was the new phenomenon with craft flying about carrying luggage as well as taking photographs or conveying information, adding that it had become necessary to discuss means of effectively regulating them.
Senator Sirika said that “the symposium was a dress rehearsal for the bigger event – the International World Aviation Forum, scheduled for Abuja from the 20th of November 2017”.
According to the minister, over 40 countries and 30 ministries of aviation across the world including US, China, Britain, South Africa and others were expected to be at the event adding that this was the first time the Forum was leaving Montreal Canada, its headquarters, since it was founded in 1944.
