The Federal Government at the weekend assured that it will save the country billions of naira from hitherto oversea training undertaken by staff of government agencies in the aviation sector following the emergency of an Aviation Training Centre, the Prime Atlantic Safety Services in Ibara Remo, Ogun State.
The Minister noted that the government will take advantage of accredited training institutions across the country for the development of the industry manpower for its critical/technical personnel.
Mr. Keyamo noted that the decision is part of the Bloa Tinubu’s administration strategy to ensure the country’s scarce foreign exchange expended offshore for training of aviation personnel in countries across the world are retained in Nigeria.
Keyamo told journalists after he inaugurated the Prime Atlantic Safety Services in Ibara Remo, Ogun State that “aside enhancing local content in manpower development in the aviation sector, the initiative will assist to conserve the foreign exchange earned in the air transport space that will now be plough to fix serious gaps in the industry.”
He urged training centers in the country to improve their programmes affirming that “if training centres intended to develop local capacity are scaled to the prescribed international standards, there will be no need to send aviation technical personnel to facilities abroad.”
According to him, most training centres located abroad are merely using their big names to secure patronage from Nigeria saying he will ensure sure is curtailed.
He disclosed that the “Ministry of Aviation is already working out the template to actualise the discovery and patronage of local training centres for the growth of the aviation sector through partnership and capacity building.”
Mr. Keyamo expressed satisfaction with the facilities at Prime Atlantic Safety Services saying a partnership with the managers of the centre will save the air transport sector huge sums spent on less developed centres abroad.
His words, “This will not only develop our capacity to retain expertise in – country, it will create revenue opportunities for its investors, and Nigeria could target it as a major training centre for aviation in Africa.