The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has read the riot act to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Aviation agencies under his ministry, saying having signed the performance bond with President Tinubu’s government, “I’d rather get you sacked than lose my job”.
Keyamo spoke on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting with chief executives of aviation agencies in Lagos.
The meeting was called to intimate stakeholders in the aviation industry of the performance bond cabinet members entered with President Bola Tinubu on Friday, after a 3-day Retreat for Ministers, Presidential Aides, Permanent Secretaries and top government functionaries.
President Tinubu, at the retreat, unveiled a three-year economic revival plan and redefined priority areas of his administration to realise his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Consequently, the President, in his contract with cabinet members on Friday, emphasised the need to avoid personal interest while warning against any underperformance.
“Let me remind you that our people are not interested in excuses, political games, or procrastination. Neither am I. They are interested in tangible results. They seek solutions to the problems that have long plagued our great nation. The challenge before us demands that we put aside personal ambitions and focus on adhering to the performance bond we have all signed up to on this day. These performance bonds represent a contract we must uphold,” the President said on Friday, after the 3-day Cabinet Retreat.
However, addressing the CEOs of Aviation agencies in Lagos on Saturday, Keyamo said at the end of the retreat, “We signed a performance bond. I also signed my performance bond yesterday”.
He said the purpose of the retreat was “to receive inputs from you as technocrats and players in the industry. Your input will add value to the road map/focus area that the Industry will prioritise to make our Aviation Sector world-class and meet the aspirations of Nigerians and all Aviation Stakeholders. We should desist from game blame and focus on solving the problems in the industry.
“As you are aware, Mr. President has unveiled his economic plan. The three-year economic revival plan that emerged from his inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting is anchored in an Eight-Point focus area targeted at addressing Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges.
“It seeks to move away from the frenzied borrowing of the last government, check the unacceptably high jobless rate, achieve economic growth, prosperity for all, and end poverty. This, we as an industry, will factor into our own focus areas for the development of the industry and in turn, the economic development of our Nation.
“So, if you don’t want me to get sacked in the next few months, you need to support me. 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.”
Highlighting activities under his Ministry since his appointment, Keyamo 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 their 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.
“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.”
* Media Report