Di Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, don call on government to quickly reform di aviation sector so dat airlines for Nigeria fit survive and grow.
Dis one come as di Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, tok say di government policies dey designed to make indigenous operators strong and competitive.
Okonkwo speak on Thursday for di unveiling of two new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft wey dem name after late Prof. Chinua Achebe and di Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, for Murtala Muhammed Airport for Lagos.
He warn say di high cost of operation, lack of money, and di shortage of aircraft dey put heavy pressure on domestic airlines.
If government no do deliberate policy intervention, operators go continue to face serious financial and operational wahala for dis already tough environment.
According to am, Nigerian airlines dey operate for one of di most expensive aviation markets for di world, with plenty money dey spend on training for overseas, aircraft maintenance, and buying planes.
He note say International Air Transport Association (IATA) don rank Nigeria as one of di most expensive countries for airline operations before.
Okonkwo call on Federal Government to review di many charges wey dey put on operators, say if dem reduce di cost burden, e go help di sector to survive.
He also urge dem to review how aviation revenue dey shared, and say make aviation agencies fit keep more of di money wey dem generate instead of sending most of am to federation account.
According to am, if agencies get better funding, dem go fit improve infrastructure and reduce di cost of operation for airlines.
“For di last three months, di industry don maybe lose N10 billion because of disruptions for air travel, even though dis one no be only for Nigeria,” he tok.
“Aviation na critical driver of economic growth, trade, and national connectivity. If agencies get better money, dem go fit provide di infrastructure wey operators need and make di industry more sustainable.”
Despite di wahala, Okonkwo express hope about di future of United Nigeria Airlines, say di two new aircraft show say di airline dey committed to growth, reliability, and better service for passengers.
He also call for stronger collaboration between government, regulators, and operators to build a more resilient and competitive aviation sector for di world.
For im own remarks, Keyamo tok say di Federal Government dey committed to supporting indigenous airlines with good policies and better access to financing for aircraft.
He describe di unveiling of di aircraft as one of di highlights of im tenure, and stress say di government aviation reforms dey intentionally designed to empower local carriers and make dem fit compete for regional and international routes.
Keyamo say di Tinubu administration aviation roadmap include reforms like di implementation of Cape Town Convention, di Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA), and oda measures wey go boost investor confidence.
He note say dis reforms don help to attract financial institutions back into aviation financing, and reverse di trend where banks dey avoid di sector because of risk.
“Any policy wey we bring, di first question na whether e go support local airlines. If e no do, we drop am,” he tok.
“We no get national airline, but we dey proud of our flag carriers. Our focus na to support dem, help dem grow, and make sure dem fit compete globally.”
Di minister also disclose say Federal Government don get approval to set up a national aircraft leasing company wey go help Nigerian operators get aircraft through government-backed arrangements.
He add say di initiative go ease di wahala wey airlines dey face wen dem dey try to get aircraft from foreign lessors.
Keyamo further reveal plans to give more international routes to indigenous airlines, including United Nigeria Airlines, as part of efforts to increase local participation for international air travel.
He say foreign airlines currently dey control about 90 percent of international passenger traffic wey dey enter and leave Nigeria, and di government dey aim to rebalance dis situation.
Di minister also highlight plans to develop Lagos into a regional aviation hub for West and Central Africa, so dat Nigerian airlines fit serve as key connectors across di region.
