The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has called on the Plateau State Government to accelerate its plans for aviation development by investing in new airports and upgrading existing aviation facilities to unlock the state’s economic and tourism potential.
Speaking at the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Jos, ATSSSAN President, Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus, described Plateau State as Nigeria’s leading tourist destination, stressing that only deliberate investments in aviation, logistics and trade infrastructure can position it for sustainable economic expansion.
Illitrus commended the state government’s expressed interest in aviation ventures but urged that the plans must be translated into concrete action. He said vast opportunities still exist in the civil aviation sector, particularly at the Heipang–Yakubu Gowon Airport, which remains underutilized despite its strategic location.
He announced that ATSSSAN is partnering with the Plateau State Government to host a civil aviation career exposition aimed at enlightening schoolchildren on the numerous professional pathways available in the aviation industry. The initiative draws inspiration from the state’s rich history in aviation support, including its scholarship programme of the early 1980s, which sponsored many Plateau indigenes to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
Highlighting ATSSSAN’s internal achievements, Illitrus revealed that the association, through strict financial discipline and effective management, has fully settled all outstanding gratuities owed to its secretariat workers—covering both retirees and those who resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Representing the state governor, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo praised ATSSSAN for its commitment to strengthening the aviation sector. She said the conference theme, “Human Capital Needs of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects,” is timely, adding that Nigeria’s aviation competitiveness relies heavily on continuous human capital development.
Piyo noted that the conference provides “an important opportunity to evaluate progress, strengthen strategies, and chart new pathways” that enhance safety, service delivery, labour relations, and technological advancement in the aviation sector. She reaffirmed the state’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to build a resilient and future-ready aviation industry.
The conference drew delegates from across Nigeria, reaffirming the sector’s focus on human capacity building, infrastructure development, and partnerships to drive national and regional aviation advancement.
ATSSSAN has urged the Plateau State Government to invest in new airports and upgrade aviation infrastructure to boost tourism, trade, and human capital development. Highlights from the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Jos.
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
