The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Friday urged the new Minister of State for Aviation, Capt Hadi Sirika, to concentrate on rehabilitating infrastructure and facilities across the airports in the country.

NUATE's Acting General Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye, gave the advice in Lagos.

Abioye said that facilities in some of the nation’s airports were also obsolete and needed upgrading in line with international standard.

He said that the country could not be at par with the international community if the country's point of entry were in an obsolete state.

"We wish that the new minister of state for aviation will inspect the facilities and infrastructure at all the airports in the country," he said.

Abioye urged Sirika to ensure the completion of the ongoing construction of new airport projects in the country as a matter of urgency.

According to him, the aviation minister should ensure stability and sustainability of the aviation industry as the industry still remains one of the engine rooms of the Nigerian economy.

He said more foreign direct investment (FDI) would come into the country if Nigeria should put necessary infrastructure in place in the aviation sector.

Abioye also called for the restructuring of the various aviation agencies and parastatals to enable them perform their statutory functions effectively.

He said, "As I speak, there are more support staff than the productive ones in the industry.

"This cuts across the parastatals and we need to look at a way to streamline this critical area for efficient delivery of aviation service to the airport users."