The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has urged the Plateau State government to invest in airport infrastructure to boost tourism, logistics, and trade.

Key points from the conference in Jos:

• ATSSSAN President, Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu, highlighted the untapped potential of Yakubu Gowon Airport and called for concrete actions to realize aviation development plans.
• He proposed a civil aviation career exposition to educate students and primary school pupils about opportunities in the aviation industry.
• Ahmadu referenced Plateau State’s past aviation scholarships in the 1980s, which sponsored students to study at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, emphasizing the long-term benefits of such initiatives.
• ATSSSAN also showcased its internal discipline and financial management, noting that saved resources were used to settle workers’ gratuities efficiently.

Government response:

• Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, representing the Governor, described the conference theme—“Human Capital Needs of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”—as timely and strategic.
• She emphasized that Nigeria’s competitiveness in aviation depends on quality, competent, and continuously developed human capital.
• Piyo affirmed the importance of evaluating progress, strengthening strategies, and improving safety, service delivery, labor relations, and technological advancement across the aviation sector.

Takeaway:
The collaboration between ATSSSAN and Plateau State aims to harness the state’s aviation potential, develop local talent, and position Plateau as a hub for tourism and civil aviation growth.