The Aviation Round Table (ART), on Thursday, described the death of a former Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babasola Borishade, as a big blow to the industry.
The President of ART, Mr. Gbenga Olowo, in an interview, said that Borishade would be sorely missed.
Borishade, who was the Minister of Aviation between July 2005 and November 2006, died on Wednesday in London at the age of 71, during a brief illness.
During his tenure, a Civil Aviation Bill was passed and signed into law to replace the 1964 Act and the direct flight between Nigeria and the U.S. was restored.
His initiation of various reforms and development in the aviation sector resulted in Nigeria scoring 93 per cent in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Audit which made Nigeria a benchmark to African aviation industry.
Olowo said: “His departure has created a very big vacuum for us in the aviation industry. As rightly said, he was “Mr. Aviation Innovator”.
“He did very well by putting the industry together and was able to review the Civil Aviation Act that has really moved us forward in terms of policy and all the provisions for implementation.
“The sector under him was fantastic, and we in the aviation sector will really miss Professor. His death was a real shock to us.”
While condoling with the family of the deceased, he urged them to take solace in the fact that their father lived an exemplary life.
He also advised politicians and Nigerians generally to learn from the life and times of the departed former minister.
Olowo said: “The major lesson from him is that we should give ourselves timelines to deliver on any programme or policy.
“That was what he did and that is why he is being remembered for bringing those changes to the aviation industry.
“He was very resourceful as minister and all of us are enjoying the documents he was able to produce till date.
“So our politicians should learn that they have a timeline to deliver what they need to deliver.
“If you are occupying an office for four years, and after two years there is nothing tangible to show, then you have to question yourself.” (NAN)