By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has disclosed plans to increase revenue generation in the country’s aviation sector through the improved collection of landing fees from helicopters operating in Nigerian airspace.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, at the inauguration of the latest batch of trained Helicopter Monitoring Officers at the International Wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport in the Rivers State capital.
This is the latest venture pushed by the sector, which is not meeting its revenue target due to a series of operational and structural challenges.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Norris Anozie, reiterated the resolve of the central government to improve revenue collection of helicopter landing charges.
It was disclosed that through the application of technology, helicopters that land or take off from the country will be adequately monitored.
Appreciating the minister, the host of the event lauded the new innovations brought in by the minister in the sector.
The minister then inaugurated the trainees before commissioning the helicopter monitoring facility at the airport.
The Helicopter Monitoring Officers are going to be vested with the responsibility of collecting landing fees on behalf of the Federal Government.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Modupe Gbadeyanka