FG will address funding, other issues to encourage Aviation Operators- Keyamo
Oru Leonard
Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria, Festus Keyamo has stated that the Federal Government would tactically address challenge of funding and other issues raised by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), to create a more conducive environment for the aviation sector to advance in favour of the Airline operators.
The Minister who stated this when members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria led by Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa, paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Monday expressed his readiness to partner and support AON to raise the standard of their services at profits.
“I don’t want to operate as a ghost, I said one of my policy is to operate an open policy… I said, bring up your challenges so that Nigerians would understand exactly where Government and Airlines Operators stands”, he said
He promised to suggest to government the possibilities of AON accessing facilities at single digits, including associated foreign exchange Afex to meet their foreign obligations.
Keyamo said the present administration will develop a futuristic master plan to accommodate everything that will 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 airfares
Earlier, the President of AON, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa presented a paper through Captain Roland Iyayi who highlighted some of the constraints and challenges and probable solution to Nigeria 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 solution requested for 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 immediate renegotiation of all existing BASA’s and Multilateral Air Service Agreements (MASA) in line with provision of Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), with emphasis on the principle of reciprocity in favour of domestic airline.
