The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has urged the federal government to create a bail-out for the nation’s aviation industry.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP, the executive secretary, NCPC, Rev Tor Uja, said a bailout would help the aviation sector to develop and to compete favourably with its counterparts globally.
He said Nigeria with its enormous human and capital resources could generate a lot of revenue from this aspect of the economy, if the sector is boosted up.
According to Uja, Nigeria airlines presently do not have competitive edge with other airlines in the world and even its airports do not rank favourably with other airports in the world.
The NCPC helmsman who commended the Aviation Minister for the timeframe renovation work carried out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said there was so much to explore in the country’s revenue drive.
He also disclosed that the commission was working towards ensuring that subsequent ground handlers engaged for pilgrims would be those registered in Nigeria and are qualified.
He said since almost a year now he assumed leadership of the commission, a lot of innovations have been introduced to reinvigorate Christian pilgrimage in the country.
“We need to set a new template for our people and our nation. I would like our Nigerian environment to project what is good and positive to the world.
“We need to strengthen what we have.”
Uja appealed to Christian bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to buy into sponsorship of intended pilgrims as government no longer funds pilgrimage in the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the Group Managing Director, LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS, Malam Abdul Gombe commended the leadership strides of Rev Tor Uja.
He said ever since he took over the mantle of leadership of the NCPC, the dignity of pilgrims have improved.
“This is quite impressive considering the fact that Nigeria’s image has been bastardaized for the wrong reasons. So this is a welcome development.”