Nigeria, India plan aviation skills transfer, technical cooperation

Indian High Commissioner, Abhishek Singh, has described Nigeria’s airports as performing very well, saying there is tremendous potential in the aviation industry and identifying at least six or seven areas in which Nigeria and India can collaborate.

Singh spoke during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where Keyamo directed that a technical team be set up to work out the details of a proposed partnership between the two countries.

Disclosing details of the meeting in a statement, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Mr Tunde Moshood, said the High Commissioner expressed his desire for the minister to visit India, adding that India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, whom he described as a very young and dynamic man, would also like to visit Nigeria.

The statement read: “On capacity building, the High Commissioner said India is ready to deepen its programme in Nigeria, noting that over 250 Nigerians benefit from the scheme every year. He described Nigeria as a great country, stating that India holds Nigeria in high regard and that his country would be glad to receive the Honourable Minister.

“In his response, the Minister thanked the High Commissioner for the visit and welcomed the proposals, noting that India’s record in aviation, particularly in the area of capacity building, offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the ministry pursues the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the aviation and aerospace sector.

“He stated that the ministry is committed to deepening bilateral ties that will not only strengthen the country’s aviation infrastructure but also create opportunities for Nigerian professionals to acquire the skills and exposure needed to compete globally.

“The Minister identified training, capacity building and the transfer of knowledge as priority areas for the ministry, noting that the partnership with India should be structured in a way that equips Nigerian engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals with the expertise required to drive the sector forward.”