MINISTER EXPLAINS DELAY IN TAKE-OFF OF NATIONAL CARRIER
MINISTER
EXPLAINS DELAY IN TAKE-OFF OF NATIONAL CARRIER
The Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi
Sirika
• Stakeholders fault
govt over open sky pact
The Minister of State Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said that government intends to build a national carrier that would stand the test of time.
The Minister of State Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said that government intends to build a national carrier that would stand the test of time.
Speaking at the
recent stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, the Minister lamented that Nigerians are
at the mercy of foreign airlines because the country has no national carrier.
But, with a new national carrier come competition, options and better deals for
the air travellers.
According to him, “We
don’t want what happened to Air Nigeria to repeat itself because someone who
just woke up from the left side of the bed decided to liquidate Nigerian
Airways, and set up Air Nigeria which didn’t last. We want to build an airline
that can challenge Ethiopian Airline.
“We don’t want to
rush into establishing a national carrier, because if we fail, it would be
disastrous and nobody will believe us again. So, we need to tread cautiously.
We will fast-track, and be quick so that we can produce something that would
stand the test of time,” he said.
The Senate Committee
Chairman on Aviation, Adamu Aliero, in his remarks noted that the National
Assembly was in full support of the national carrier as long as it is private
sector driven while the government provide the enabling environment for the
private sector to run it, adding that government should not play any role in
financing or running it or else it would go the way of the Nigeria Airways.
He said the National
Assembly was also in support of the concession of the four major airports, but
urged government to be transparent enough and carry along all the key
stakeholders.
Aliero said: “We
don’t believe that concession of the airport would lead to massive retrenchment
rather it would weed out inefficiency and dependency in the workforce, reduce
corruption as revenue diverted into private pockets would move to proper place
and invariably increase employment.”
He lamented that it
is embarrassing that airlines go to Ghana to source for Aviation fuel despite
the fact that the country has three refineries.
He was, however,
enthusiastic that when the Aliko Dangote refinery is commissioned, the problem
of Aviation fuel would be a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, the
stakeholders have urged government not to rush into implementing the African
Open Skies Agreement recently signed, as they urged the government to consider
the viability and competitiveness of the Nigerian Aviation industry.
Chairman of the
Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, said though it is
good to open the African skies, there is need to be discreet about it.
He said: “We have
signed the Open Skies agreement, but I think implementing it should not be in a
rush, we should look into it and see how we can take full advantage of it. I
would not say much on this but to say transparency should be at the fore front
of all we are doing on these policies.”
The stakeholders also
chided government for allowing Ethiopian Airline to land in five six airports
in the country and also allowing British Airways to land in Lagos and Abuja.
They recommended that all the foreign airlines should be limited to not more
than two airports in the country, so as to create market for Nigerian Airlines.
They observed that there 26 airports in the country and most of them are dormant. But if the industry must grow, government must provide the enabling environment to make airlines thrive.
They observed that there 26 airports in the country and most of them are dormant. But if the industry must grow, government must provide the enabling environment to make airlines thrive.
They advised that
“government could allow British Airways go to Lagos while Virgin Atlantic goes
to Abuja, so that they can drop the passengers for local airlines to pick them
to their various destinations”
The Minister, in his
response, said that the government had signed open skies with the United States
for year and nobody raised an highbrow, adding that America with their huge
carriers have the capacity to dominate all the airports.
He reiterated that
government would not go into any policy that would destroy Nigerian businesses,
noting that the purpose of governance and his role as minister were to promote
businesses so that they would continue to create job opportunity and provide
services.