Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has vowed to sack any Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Aviation agencies who fail to deliver.
Keyamo stated this on Saturday in Lagos State at the one-day Aviation Stakeholders’ meeting, the first to be held since his assumption of office.
Facing the CEOs of Aviation agencies in attendance, the minister said he is under obligation to perform, having signed the performance bond with other ministers serving in President Bola Tinubu’s government.
He said, “On this side, it is either I get sacked, or they get sacked. So, it is a race to who will survive. That’s what I have told all my CEOs, somebody must die first, but before I die, I will take you down.”
The aviation minister, therefore, sought the support of stakeholders in the industry in order to protect his job.
He said, “We had a three-day retreat with Mr. President, all the Ministers. At the end of the day, we signed a performance bond. I also signed my performance bond yesterday. So, if you don’t want me to get sacked in the next few months, you need to support me.”
Keyamo called on the stakeholders to desist from game blame and focus on solving the problems in the industry. He also highlighted activities under his ministry since his appointment.
He said, “You will recall that following my appointment by Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I had gone on inspection of the Nigeria Airports i.e. Lagos and Abuja. I set up a task force for the relocation of foreign airlines from the old international terminal to the new terminal following the state of disrepair of the old terminal, which does not speak well about Nigeria as a people. The task force has since submitted its report. We are looking at their recommendations for possible action. We will overhaul this terminal to further boost the revenue drive of our airports.
“I equally, formally received the land for the construction of the 2nd runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the Jiwa Community. This is a historic event and dream come through, which Nigerians have looked up to for the past two decades. You can rest assured that the benefits of the second runway will provide a substantial economic advantage to the Nation.
“I have also received briefs from some of the Agencies under the Ministry and the Unions in the Aviation Industry. I have taken note of the concerns raised. After this engagement, we shall have a management retreat where we will further distil your inputs as stakeholders to move the Aviation Industry forward.”
