October 10, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has stated its readiness to support and partner with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to raise the standard of its services and revolutionise the aviation sector and the nation’s economy.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated this when members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), led by its President, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa, paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Tuesday.
Keyamo informed that the visit by the AON was a follow-up of a private visit made earlier by the association, saying “I don’t want to operate as a ghost, I said one of my policies is to operate an open policy. I said bring up your challenges so that Nigerians would understand exactly where Government and airlines operators stand,” he said.
Disclosing his readiness to support the growth and sustenance of the local airline operators while holding them to the highest international standards in the aviation industry, Keyamo noted that they are critical to the growth and development of the aviation industry and the country at large, hence the government is ready to help them operate profitably.
Keyamo assured of a possible review of all Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) agreements, stressing the need for AON to renew and repair their fleets to encourage passenger patronage.
He also pleaded with the airline operators to cooperate among themselves to find a way to establish their businesses such that they will have enough capital to survive instances like Covid 19 pandemic.
He promised to suggest to the government the possibilities of AON accessing facilities at single digits, including associated foreign exchange Afex to meet their foreign obligations.
While welcoming investors to establish commercial MROs in Nigeria, Kayamo stated that during his administration, a futuristic master plan would be developed to accommodate everything that would make Nigeria an aviation hub in Africa while employing all airlines to utilise their Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) routes to reduce the prices of airfare.
Earlier, the President of AON, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa, presented a paper through Captain Roland Iyayi, who highlighted some of the constraints challenges and probable solutions to Nigeria’s aviation industry. Among the challenges highlighted are: foreign exchange, Jet A1 fuel, cost of capital and funding options, infrastructure, taxes, fees and charges as well as government policies.
AON, while proposing solutions, requested licences for Jet A1 importation and distribution through strategic partnership and an immediate review of all industry taxes, fees and charges.
They also called for the immediate renegotiation of all existing BASA and Multilateral Air Service Agreements (MASA) in line with the provision of Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), with emphasis on the principle of reciprocity in favour of domestic airlines.
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.
