Over 60,000 jobs created in aviation sector in 2011 – FEC

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stated that over 60,000 jobs were created in the aviation sector in 2011 alone and that the industry is expected to contribute six per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the coming year.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, made this known while briefing state house correspondents on the outcome of the weekly meeting on Wednesday.

In continuation of the assessment of the performance of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government in the past one year, the council took on the Ministries of Aviation and Communication Technology in a marathon briefing that lasted for over nine hours.

New National Carrier

The Minister of Aviation told the council that a fund will soon be created to avoid the short term facility being suffered by the existing airlines and that the new national carrier that will soon be floated will be private sector driven.

She enumerated her achievements to include the expansion of the existing terminal buildings as well as plans to build at least 11 new terminal buildings across the country.

On her part, the Minister of Communication Technology, Ms Omobolaji Johnson, said that the one year old ministry has contributed 5.7 per cent to the nations GDP and is committed to the development of broadband network that will enable Nigerians have access to the internet.