Upon assuming duty, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, has assured Nigerians that a national air carrier will soon be established. He also promised to revamp airports across the country.
Kana made this known at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja during the handing-over ceremony organised by the ministry.
Kana, the former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, stated that his remarks were based on President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for the aviation sector. He pledged his unreserved support to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, in actualising a Nigerian national carrier and upgrading airports across the country to international standards.
“Resources are scarce; we need to embrace the private sector to support Nigeria’s aviation industry,” he added.
Kana emphasised his commitment to innovation and appealed to all the ministry’s agencies to support Tinubu’s agenda.
The outgoing permanent secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole expressed gratitude to the ministry and Nigerians for the opportunity to contribute to the country’s development.
He acknowledged that civil service is continuous and stated that his exit would not hinder the growth of the aviation ministry. He urged staff to extend the collaboration and teamwork he enjoyed to the new permanent secretary. “No man is perfect, but I have always wished to leave a place better than I found it and I believe I have done that,” he said.
Meribole commended the administrative acumen of Keyamo and appealed to stakeholders in the aviation industry to remain steadfast in ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation sector becomes the best in Africa.
Earlier, while delivering their valedictory speeches, the director of finance and accounts in the ministry, Dr. Udechukwu Osakwe described Meribole as “a man committed to service delivery and competence.” Similarly, the registrar of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi speaking on behalf of the ministry’s heads of agencies, described Meribole as a man of integrity who respects meritocracy.
Speaking at the event, the director of legal services and special adviser to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Barr. Odugbesan, described Kana as a “bureaucratic soldier” whose leadership style has brought significant development to the Ministry of Defence and other ministries he has led.
Advising the aviation family to work with Kana, Odugbesan said the new permanent secretary is a man who nurtures talent and is passionate about staff welfare.
The climax of the event was the signing and handover of the ministry’s strategic documents, assets, and liabilities to the new permanent secretary.
