The four major challenges bedeviling aviation industry, which have been identified as high cost of aviation fuel, depleting fleet of domestic airlines, aircraft maintenance facility and paucity of foreign exchange, can be addressed through collaboration between government and the private sector, writesThe popular adage that no airline in Nigeria can succeed without government support literally means that government, which created the laws that made flight operations possible must enforce these...
Spokesman of Airline Operators of Nigeria , who is also the Chairman/CEO of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, recently stated in a TV interview that domestic airlines needed government support because the operators are finding it very difficult to render their services in an environment where they have to go to the parallel market to access dollars at a very exorbitant price, noting that it is becoming increasingly difficult coping with operational challenges in the country.
He said that the challenge before Nigeria is to win back the credibility of a credit worthy nation and also expressed hope that what happened in the aviation sector would not affect other areas of the economy. “This way, you remove the foreign airlines out of our domestic routes and domestic markets of the domestic airlines. Finally, ensure that a Domiciliary Aviation Commercial Account is opened with the CBN where money generated by the operators in Aviation and Maritime are kept and naira equivalent given to the depositors. These dollars can be taken back when needed and the naira returned. That domiciliary account can be succour for the repatriation of the foreign airlines money.
“Those who know, NAL was not designed as a profit making company then, it served government needs with officers traveling with warrants instead of cash and NGA 001/2 movements were also burdened on NAL. In fact, the government actually commandeered aircraft at will to serve government needs. NAL was also presenting and enjoying funding through the national budget annually as a parastatal of government. If am wrong about the above, I stand to be corrected.