Nigeria and other African nations will need at least 54,000 technical workers in a variety of aviation-related sectors by 2042.
According to The Times, it was also predicted that in the next 20 years, Nigeria’s air transport sector will grow by at least 5% yearly.
During the current 7th Aviation Summit taking place in Abuja, the Marketing Director, Airbus, Africa, Mr. Joep Ellers, said that Nigeria and other African countries need to invest more in aviation to meet the sector’s challenges in the coming 20 years.
According to Ellers, the technical workforce required by the industry would increase by 17, 000 technicians, 14, 000 pilots, and 23, 000 cabin crew across the continent in the next 20 years.
According to Ellers, the sector has already generated an estimated 7.7 million direct and indirect jobs, and he predicted that number might double in the next 20 years as the number of technical workers rises.
He stated: “As the aerospace sector expands and becomes more dynamic in Nigeria and throughout Africa, thousands of new job possibilities for young people are being created.
“Already, the industry in Africa has generated an estimated 7.7 million direct and indirect jobs. According to Airbus, additional 17, 000 technicians,14, 000 pilots, and 23 000 cabin crew positions will be required across Africa in the next 20 years.”
In addition, he projected that over the next 20 years, the average annual service demand would increase by 4.1 percent, from the present $2 billion to $7 billion, as a result of the continent’s sector expansion.
Additionally, he asserted that the expansion of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities in Nigeria is essential for the industry’s expansion, security, and durability.
He claimed that the expansion of MRO capabilities in Nigeria may help the nation and the continent as a whole by increasing revenue, lowering the cost of maintaining aircraft and opening up even more prospects for job creation and skill development.
Ellers continued, stating that by 2042, 1,180 new aircraft will also be required within the continent, consisting of 295 wide-bodies and 885 single-aisle aircraft.
He predicted that the region’s fleet would upgrade to next-generation aircraft during this time, including the Airbus A220, A320neo family, A330neo, and A350, which would increase efficiency and result in a reduction in carbon emissions per passenger.
He also emphasized that over the previous ten years, Nigeria and other African countries have made important advancements in the sector, including the establishment of the Single African Air Transport Market and national airlines’ upgrading of their fleets.
He emphasized that over the next 20 years, air travel in Nigeria would increase by at least 5% annually.
He also claimed that the aviation industry plays a significant role in the economy of Nigeria and that everyone must work together to ensure its success.
In addition, he predicted that passenger traffic in Nigeria would grow by 2.9% between 2019 and 2042, highlighting the fact that 159 more aircraft would be required to serve the Nigerian market during that time.
According to the statistics, traffic from North America would increase in Nigeria by 3.3% over the next 20 years, while traffic from Europe would increase by 3% over the same time.
Additionally, he predicted that air travel between Nigeria and Latin America would rise by 4.7%, while travel between Nigeria and other African nations is anticipated to rise by 5.1%.
Between the country and the Middle East, traffic would climb by 4.5 percent, compared to a 5.6 percent growth in Asia Pacific.
