National carrier will revive economy – Demuren

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

A former Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Mr.  Harold Demuren, has thrown his weight behind the move by the Federal Government to resuscitate the defunct national carrier but warned that government should avoid interference in its operations.

He said this on Thursday in an open lecture of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

He spoke on the theme: ‘Public governance and sustainable development’.

He said resuscitating the national carrier would boost the economy of the country and further open up the country to the outside world.

Demuren noted that for the national carrier to succeed government must exploit the Public-Private Partnership strategy,  shun red-tapism and corruption associated with government operations and procedures.

He said,  “The aviation sector is key. It brings the country closer to the world and makes the world close to the country.

“It opens up the country to the outside world and ensures inflow of investment from around the world.  The resuscitation of the nation’s national carrier will revive the nation’s economy.”

Giving the example of Ethiopian Airline as one of the thriving national carriers in Africa, Demuren said Nigeria was a veritable hub in Africa, with a huge traffic of travellers.

He said the national carrier if well-managed has the potential for being the strongest and largest airline in Africa.

Before the national carrier, Demuren, however, recommended airport infrastructure upgrade,  establishment of world-class maintenance, repair and overhaul facility and must boost investor confidence among others.

On his own part,  the vice-chancellor,  OOU,  Prof. Ganiu Olatunde, said the varsity decided to organise the open lecture through the Faculty of Social Sciences to provide an opportunity for ‘town and gown’ to interact and offer solutions to the challenges confronting the country.