Aviation Industry to
Aviation Industry to Prioritise Boarding of Military
Personnel
The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has asked
the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies
in the sector to incorporate policies and activities that show
appreciation of both the serving and retired military personnel in
Nigeria.
Towards this end, he has directed that priority should be given
to them during check-ins and flight boarding as obtains in most
developed nations of the world.
Sirika who gave the directive when members of Defence
Headquarters Committee for Sensitisation Strategy on Public
Appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, visited him in his
office, also directed that special messages appreciating the
sacrifices and achievements of the Military should be included in
flight announcements at intervals.
He said that the military deserved to be appreciated for their
sacrifices in ensuring the security and safety of the country and
its citizens, emphasizing that the nation’s armed forces had done
extremely well in ensuring that Nigeria remained a united and
indivisible entity.
He said that Nigerians must appreciate the armed forces for
their roles in the peace-keeping efforts in West African sub-region
and other parts of the world, adding that the military was one
institution where the oneness of Nigeria was displayed.
“In addition, in all our parastatals, there should be banners to
appreciate the military and we will also have those banners in our
airports to be located in strategic places where everybody can
see.
“Certainly, the Nigerian military have done tremendously not for
Nigeria but for the sub-region where we operate and for the world.
In all the peace keeping mission that Nigerian military has gone
to, they were well appreciated because they always come top and
they performed excellently well,’’ he said.
The minister also pledged to produce stickers with the
permission of the military authority to appreciate the armed forces
for their sacrifices to the nation.
Earlier, Air Vice Marshall Jomo Osahor, Chairman of the
committee, said the visit was to solicit for support from aviation
industry to sensitise the public on the need to appreciate Nigerian
armed forces.
Osahor said the committee was set up by the Chief of Defence
Staff, to develop strategies to sensitise the public on how the
members of the armed forces could be appreciated for their
sacrifices and commitment to the service of the nation.
He said that the committee came up with the plan to request from
the management of the airports, through the minister to incorporate
a message of appreciation to the military into its flight
announcements and other media available to them.
The Committee’s assignment, according to Osahor, was in line
with the theme for the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day which was,
‘’Appreciating the Armed Forces of Nigeria.’’
“We are all aware that announcements are regularly made at the
airports either to inform you of boarding, delays and
cancellations. It was agreed that we request the minister and the
appropriate authorities to use this medium to also announce to the
public on the need to appreciate the armed forces of Nigeria.”
“You are all aware of the sacrifices that the armed forces are
making in keeping the peace, protecting our territorial integrity.
Some have lost their lives in the process and now you have so many
widows and we think that the little we can do is to appreciate
these members of the armed forces.”
“In America, when you want to board an aircraft in most times,
preference is given to the members of their military to board but
we have not gotten there yet. We want you to help us sensitise
Nigerians because you have the medium,’’ he said.
AVM Osahor was accompanied by other members of the Committee,
including Major General Soleye, Real Admiral Kayoda, Brigadier
General Agbim, the Director Defence Information, and Navy Captain,
the Committee’s Secretary.
James Odaudu
Deputy Director, Media & Public Affairs