December 16, (THEWILL) – In this piece, ANTHONY AWUNOR looks at the negative balance of trade between reciprocating countries participating in Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA).
Over the years, the Nigerian aviation industry has been faced with lots of challenges, one of them being unfair competition.
One of the areas where Nigeria is lagging behind is in the proper implementation of its Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA).
BASA is an agreement that provides for civil aviation certifications to be shared between two countries.
For instance, the Nigerian government, last year signed a BASA with each of the United States, India, Morocco and Rwanda. Before then, Nigeria had BASA arrangements with many other countries as well.
The BASA agreements are to enable free movement of commercial flights among the countries involved.
The implication is that airlines from all these countries that Nigeria signed a BASA with operate in Nigeria, and Nigerian flag carriers are supposed to be designated to reciprocate on those routes.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is not benefiting fully from most of these BASAs because they are not fully implemented. Only a handful of BASAs signed in the past were actually reciprocated.
Aviation experts have attributed Nigeria’s misfortune in this regard to a lack of capacity to match up with its competitors.
However, the former Director of Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Henry Omeogu, has blamed unfavourable implementation of BASA in Nigeria to the absence of a Civil Aviation Board (CAB) in the system.
Omeogu said a CAB tackles economic issues that affect airlines, including was BASA.
He mentioned the United States, United Kingdom and other developed countries with Civil Aviation Boards, stressing that it is the department responsible for the negotiation of BASA arrangements with other countries, and not the ministry or ministers as is done in the Nigeria.
Nonetheless, recent unfolding events indicate that long time agitation on schedule reciprocity to Nigeria is finally being addressed.
For example, due to imbalance of free movement between Nigeria and the UAE, Emirates Airlinea was granted only one weekly frequency and to only one entry point (ABV) on Thursdays in its winter schedule.
As a result of this action taken by the federal government, the UAE authorities have not only granted seven slots per week to Air Peace but have granted the Nigerian carrier the slots to operate from the preferred Dubai Airport, instead of Sharjah.
Emirates had before now operated 21 weekly frequencies to two entry points (LOS and ABV), whereas Nigerian carrier Air Peace wanted 3 frequencies to Sharjah and was granted only one.
Commending the step taken by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), led by the Director General, Capt Musa Nuhu, president of the Aviation Round Table (ART), Dr Gbenga Olówó, had stated that the DG’s actions were highly commendable and confirm his professionalism, love for Nigeria, and the desire to address the negative balance of trade between reciprocating countries participation in Nigeria’s BASA.
Dr Olowo said correcting these anomalies should not be treated in isolation but applied to all the foreign operations into Nigeria.
“Reciprocity on number of frequencies and choice of entry points remains the necessary and sufficient condition to avail markets for our carriers, address anti competition practise prevailent in Nigeria market till date due to corruption, reduce the heavy demand on forex for airline home remittance, build strong Nigerian flag carriers and consequently build a strong economy,” Olowo stated.
In the same vein, Airline Operators of Nigeria(AON), equally commended the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Abubakar Sirika, for the courageous way he stood up for the honour, dignity and respect to Nigeria’s sovereignty as a nation on the diplomatic matter between Nigeria and UAE.
The body, in an official statement issued recently, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unwavering stance on the issue which emboldened the Minister of Aviation to reciprocate with equal measures the treatment meted out to a Nigerian airline operating into the UAE.
The body said, “The AON wishes to commend the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Abubakar Sirika, for the courageous way he stood up for the honour, dignity and respect to our sovereignty as a nation on this matter.
“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for standing solidly and protectively behind not only Nigerian airlines but also indigenous investments and investors in Nigeria.
“By the recent reciprocal actions undertaken by the Federal Government, National sense of pride and belief in Nigeria rose to an all-time high.”
The airline operators commended the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, for his dogged and courageous actions, which did not leave anyone in doubt about his resolve to do all within his capacity not to allow any country disrespect Nigeria.
The AON stressed that it is not opposed to other foreign airlines operating into Nigeria but added that it frowns upon the underhand actions of these airlines and their countries in making it difficult for Nigerian airlines to get the necessary permits to operate in their countries.
“We encourage the federal government of Nigeria to continue to reciprocate, in equal measure, against any country that tries, in any manner whatsoever, to disrespect our sovereignty again,” the body stated.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
