The Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has appealed to the Federal Government to provide greater financial support to modernise its training facilities, acquire additional aircraft and expand its capacity, warning that inadequate funding is limiting the institution's ability to meet Nigeria's growing demand for aviation professionals.
The management of the country's foremost aviation training institution said obsolete infrastructure, a shortage of training aircraft and the migration of skilled personnel to better-paying jobs in the aviation industry have combined to slow the college's expansion, despite increasing interest from aspiring pilots within and outside Nigeria.
Speaking during a press conference at the college in Zaria, the Rector, Dr. Danjuma Adamu Ismaila, said stronger support from the Federal Government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) would significantly improve the institution's infrastructure and training capacity.
According to him, funding remains the college's biggest challenge.
"Lack of modern aircrafts for training and other infrastructural facilities are factors limiting expansion and pilot students enrolment in the college. Actually the challenge is funding."
While acknowledging the various funding sources available to the institution, Ismaila said they have not been sufficient to address critical infrastructure needs.
"Thank God, we have many source of funds now. We have the Federal Government, we have our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), we have our TETFund now, it's coming, and then there is also support from the Ministry."
"So, these are some of our sources of funding, but some of them are not performing. So, if all of them were performing, then fine and good, but we are managing with the situation. Actually, we wish some of our critical infrastructures; one of our aircraft—TBM series, it's now grounded because lack of funds to reactivate it. And we also need additional aircraft."
Limited aircraft restrict student intake
The rector explained that the shortage of operational training aircraft has significantly reduced the number of students the college can admit, even as demand for pilot training continues to rise across the country.
According to him, NCAT currently admits only 25 pilot trainees per session, with another batch of 25 admitted after six months, a figure he described as inadequate for a country with a population exceeding 200 million.
"We are facing is excessive demand for pilot training all over the country."
"We have limited capacity to admit. We can only admit maximum of 25 in a class, then after six month, you can admit another 25. But, this is the overall general demand for the country of about 200 million."
Admission, he explained, is conducted strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.
"So what we do is that after giving admission, the first 25 that paid, they're guaranteed for the classrooms. And that's why we call it, first come first serve basis, but despite that, there are many people waiting to be admitted, and to be listed in our classrooms."
He noted that expanding the college's fleet of training aircraft would immediately allow the institution to increase student enrolment.
"But, if can have more additional aircrafts for training, okay, definitely we are going to have more intake."
Staff leaving for better-paying jobs
Beyond infrastructure challenges, Ismaila also expressed concern over the growing number of experienced personnel leaving the institution for higher-paying opportunities in the aviation sector.
According to him, the remuneration available at the college cannot compete with salaries offered by private operators and other organisations within the industry.
"Most of our staff are running to the industry now."
"Because the salary we are paying them is not commensurate with what is being paid in the industry. They are running to other organizations in the industry because there is higher pay there."
The loss of skilled instructors and technical personnel, he warned, poses another challenge to the college's long-term capacity to deliver quality aviation training.
NCAT attracting students from across Africa
Despite its operational constraints, the rector said NCAT has continued to maintain international training standards, enabling the institution to attract students from several African countries.
He attributed the growing interest to the college's reputation for producing highly skilled aviation professionals.
"So we have started reaching out to our neighboring West African countries and other East African countries. So far, it has started yielding results. As at last year, I think we have almost about 100 number of participants from West Africa and South Africa."
According to him, countries including Niger, The Gambia and Sierra Leone have continued to send trainees to the institution.
"Some of them, from Niger, Gambia, Sierra Leone; In fact, in two weeks time, I think there are some coming from is it Gambia or Sierra Leone? About 18 of them are coming. So we have all what it takes to generate participations from African countries, and that will give us revenue in hard currency."
Investment can reduce capital flight
Ismaila maintained that increased investment in the college would not only improve aviation training in Nigeria but also generate foreign exchange earnings and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek aviation training abroad.
"So, if we can invest more in the facilities, I'm telling you, Nigeria has a lot we can benefit from the college and we can generate a lot of hard currency."
"And also we can reduce what we call capital flight. People don't need to go outside to do some training. They can stay here and do it. Other West African countries can come here and do it, and they pay in dollars. And that is an income to Nigerian Government."
The rector expressed optimism that with improved funding, modern training aircraft and stronger infrastructure, NCAT could significantly expand its role as a regional aviation training hub while producing more pilots and aviation professionals to meet the country's growing manpower needs.