- Aviation Experts Canvass Industry Growth Through Improved Policies
Aviation stakeholders have said only improved government policies can drive growth in the industry.
The stakeholders noted that such policies must also be focused on achieving certain results that could be measured against international best standards and practices.
The President, Aviation Round Table Initiative, Mr Gbenga Olowo, said the policies must be made to drive investors, consumers and ensure safety and security as well as stakeholders’ satisfaction.
According to him, the industry needs policy thrust directed towards achieving solid objectives, adding that the industry’s regulatory framework must be stable, and the political environment should be favourable.
Olowo said, “Regulations shouldn’t be changing the way we change our dress. We cannot continue to be prodigal the way balance of trade against Nigeria is handled. If we cannot run our businesses, then we will not be able to manage even ourselves.
“If we say Nigerian aviators cannot give birth to solid and sound Nigerian airlines that means that a Nigerian shouldn’t be our governor; a Nigerian shouldn’t be our president or our legislator. But as long as Nigerians remain our president, commissioners, governors and local government chairmen as well as legislators, then Nigerians are available to run airlines for us. We have all the solid resources provided the policy thrusts are followed.”
Olowo and others, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, noted that the issue of policy summersault resulting from change in government must be addressed.
A former Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mr Roland Iyayi, stated that to grow aviation, there should be a deliberate and consistent policy geared towards ensuring that the airlines survived.
“That you have airlines failing is not because they can’t run the airlines; it is because the environment in which they operate is extremely harsh and not conducive for growth,” he said.
He said the multiplicity of charges in the industry was inconsistent with the purpose of growth.
He added, “On the one hand, we have government agencies that are supposed to be cost-recovery agencies being encouraged to grow their Internally Generated Revenue, which is inconsistent with the industry growth. Unfortunately, most of the things we do in the industry are born out of knee jerk reactions.
“Something happens, we react, rather than being proactive. Essentially, when you put a policy framework in place, it is assumed to be proactive because you are looking at the issues and you are proffering solutions by way of articulating a chart. If you have inconsistencies, you can never see the benefit of any policy you put in place.”
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the government had been supporting airlines through tax waivers and other incentives but stressed that there should be policies in place to curtail the influx of foreign airlines.
He said, “The invasion of this country by foreign airlines, if not stopped, will continue to deplete our reserves through the money they take out of this country and pretend that they love us more than themselves.
“If we get it right, with the right policies in aviation, there are many rich people in this country that can turn aviation around. But many are not ready to come into the industry because they are scared of certain policies. Policies of multi designation of frequencies to foreign carriers will not encourage Nigerian investors to invest.”
