FG to establish Aviation University that will ‘produce aircraft’ in future

An aviation university would soon be established by the federal government, says Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation.

The minister made this known on Saturday during a tour of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, Kaduna.

The university, he said, would in the near future “manufacture” aircraft components and eventually “produce” aircraft.

Sirika said: “The aviation university will be different from NCAT; the university will be fully into research and development and production of higher level management manpower need of the industry.

“The university will go into deep research, with the hope that in the near future, we will be able to manufacture aircraft components, until when we are able to produce the aircraft itself.

“Since the technology is available around the world, is no longer a hindrance, it is our own ability and capability to pursue it.

“The technology is known, we are not reinventing it; we just put our act together in doing it. So, the university will cater for that, while NCAT will continue to provide the services in the institute.

“Remember, it was the UNDP that partnered with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Nigerian government to produce this institution.

“And it is one of its kind, so why are going to reduce its capacity and capability?. Our own task is to improve, enhance and upgrade the capacity and ability of the college to do more.

“But if somebody feels that he has funds to go and establish a facility somewhere to do some kind of training, of course, we will support him.”