July 27, (THEWILL) — The Secretary General of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, has explained why airfares remain high in the country, attributing it to the few airlines operating in the industry, coupled with a dearth of aircraft for operators.
He, therefore, wants the government to make a further push for a national carrier, as its establishment is the only thing that can bring down the escalating cost of airfares and also ensure reciprocity in the numerous Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) signed by Nigeria
This is just as he equally observed that there is a shortage of manpower in certain areas of the aviation industry.
According to Comrade Saidu, there is insufficient manpower in firefighting, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) departments, a situation that does not augur well for operational efficiency.
Speaking to newsmen at the weekend in Lagos, the ANAP scribe advised on the need to replenish the workforce in such departments with well-trained professionals, in order to close the gaps and make room for more efficiency.
He also advised on the need for the government to establish a robust succession plan, as most of the personnel are ageing.
Saidu decried a situation where core professionals are replaced with political appointees who are not grounded in the job.
Explaining why airfares continue to go up in the country, the aviation expert attributed the situation to inadequate airlines and aircraft, which have caused very low capacity when compared to the global average.
The airfare, he said, cannot be controlled by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) because ticket price is deregulated, adding that even though the Authority had wanted to regulate the price, it would be very difficult because there are not enough airlines and aircraft in the system.
“Nigeria’s aviation is crawling, and we are not where we are supposed to be because we don’t have a national carrier. In line with BASA, which the Minister is running up and down, there is a need for us to have one so that we can achieve the principles of reciprocity”, he said.
The labour leader who lamented that Nigeria’s aviation is still crawling and is yet to achieve its potential, noted that since Najomo came in as DG, things are beginning to change gradually because the renowned aviator has been within the system.
“Najomo has brought sanity into the industry with some caution. At times, he used to be strict when they wanted to shortchange or cut corners on the rules and regulations as enshrined in ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
“Najomo is not somebody, you will say the Minister has to say this or that. He is like Demuren, who wouldn’t allow anyone to teleguide him”, Saidu stated.
Saidu equally warned the government against airport concession, insisting that the country is not well developed to concession its airports.
“We warned about the concession because the airport is easier for external aggression to launch an attack. We are not developed to be able to concession our airports. Even now that our airports are not concessioned, drug-related cases are prevalent; how much more when the airports are concessioned. It will definitely be more”, he said.
He urged the Tinubu-led administration to encourage the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to constitute Boards of all Aviation Parastatals, as has been done in other sectors.
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.
