NAHCO ‘ll be a good partner in Agro export – Chidoka

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka has
said that the National Handling Aviation Company (NAHCO
AVIANCE) would be a great partner in the Federal
Government’s agro – based export programme.
Speaking when the Board of the Company led by its Chairman,
Mallam Suleiman Yahyah paid him a courtesy call in his Abuja
office, Chidoka said with the capacity and efficiency of the
Cargo handling company, government could be rest assured
that the expected agricultural output would be well taken care
of in terms of export capabilities.
Promising to contact his counterpart in the Agriculture and
Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, to see how the
Agric Ministry and nahco can work together, Chidoka pledged
to bring the two sides together to facilitate a partnership that
would work well for the development of the country’s
economy.
Chidoka said there is much to be done to improve the cargo
industry in Nigeria commending nahco aviance for leading the
improvement path.
The minister wondered why the country does not have an air
cargo system that moves fresh food stuffs from one part of the
country to the other same day when the foodstuffs and fruits
are still very fresh.
“Why can’t tomatoes be moved by air from Yola to Lagos,” he
asked adding that these are the kinds of things the aviation
sector should be able to accomplish.
He also envisaged a situation where the agro sector would be
able to join hands with nahco in maximizing the opportunities
that exist in the implementation of the Company’s Free Trade
Zone licence.
The way it is being implemented, the NAHCO’s Free Trade
Zone allows for importation and exportation of goods in a kind
of borderless environment. The FTZ allows Nigeria’s agro-
allied products to be exported to Europe and America with
Lagos serving as the regional hub in the process.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of nahco aviance, Yahyah
had told the Minister that nahco plans to invest well in excess
of USD500 in the development of its FTZ in the next five years.
He pointed out that with the collaboration of government and
nahco in the exportation of agro products, millions of
employment would be created with many direct and indirect
benefits to Nigerians.
He assured the minister that nahco aviance is ready to assist the
minister in the task of moving the aviation sector forward.
While restating that government does not have to involve itself
in
running businesses, Chidoka assures that the infrastructure and
the enabling environment would be provided to afford
operators optimize their capabilities and efficiencies.
The Minister thanked the nahco’s team for coming adding that
he hoped this would be the beginning of further engagement in
his efforts to move the aviation sector forward.