By Sarah NEGEDU
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has pledged the full support of the FCT Administration for the successful hosting of Nigeria’s first-ever International Airshow scheduled to take place, December in Abuja.
Wike gave the assurance when he received the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and his delegation on a courtesy visit to the FCTA on Wednesday.
He described the forthcoming airshow as a “very major global event” that would further enhance Abuja’s profile as a hub for tourism, business, and international investment.
“Let me say that FCTA will be interested to partner with you and have an official opening speech that day to officially endorse this show, which is a very, very major show in Abuja,” Wike stated.
The minister directed relevant departments of the FCT Administration to work closely with the aviation ministry in providing necessary logistical and administrative support, particularly in the areas of transport, security, sanitation, and publicity.
He assured that the Transport Secretariat would handle arrangements for train services and CNG buses, while the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage, DOAS, would liaise with the organizers on billboard placements across the city.
“We will also approve for you to use the billboard but something has to be done. Everything cannot be free, free, free. That’s the problem Nigeria has. You want to advertise to the entire world but you don’t want to pay,” he said.
He also assured of the involvement of the Satellite Towns Development Department to ensure cleanliness along the airport corridor, adding that the FCTA had already made significant infrastructural investments in the area.
“You can see what we’ve done for you. Look at the airport road down to your gate, where you’re collecting the due, we did do that road,” Wike noted.
Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, explained that the airshow, billed for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, would mark 100 years of aviation in Nigeria and would attract key players from across the global aviation industry.
He said the event was conceived as part of activities to commemorate the centenary of the first aircraft landing in Nigeria in 1925, adding that it would position the country as a leading aviation destination in Africa.
“This will be a major global event. Around the world, airshows are key fixtures on national aviation calendars — we have the Farnborough Airshow, the Paris Airshow, and we’ll be going to the Dubai Airshow in the next two or three weeks. It’s a regular event across countries, but we have never had one in our history since Nigeria began receiving aircraft,” Keyamo said.
According to him, the airshow enjoys strong collaboration from the Nigerian Air Force and will feature exhibitions by major international aviation firms.
He therefore sought the support of the FCT Administration in logistics, publicity, and tourism promotion to ensure the success of the event.
Keyamo also requested the use of FCT train services, CNG buses, and billboards for awareness campaigns, as well as partnership with Aso Radio and Aso TV for publicity.
He added: “From the first aircraft landing in Nigeria in 1925 till now, this year marks a century of aviation in our country. As part of this centenary celebration, we are partnering with a private company and the Nigerian Air Force to deliver a world-class event that will attract global attention.”
