President of Association of
Foreign Airlines and their Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), Dr Kingsley
Nwokoma has advised the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),
and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to deepen its engagement
with international carriers operating flights into the country on the best
formula to offset the over $800 million
trapped in Nigeria.
Nwokoma said unless the
government works out a sustainable model for clearing the huge backlog of funds
owed foreign carriers the amount will continue to balloon and push the affected
carriers on tenterhooks.
Speaking at a briefing at
AFARN's office at the Cargo Wing of the Lagos Airport , yesterday, Nwokoma said
the Federal Government needs to demonstrate more sensitivity in handling the
matter concerning foreign carriers as failure to release revenue from ticket
sales in Nigeria may force the carriers to withdraw flight services into the
country.
He said the $61million
recently released by the CBN, was a pittance compared to the huge sum held back
in Nigeria.
Nwokoma said unless the
Federal Government evolve measures to release the trapped funds in huge
tranches, the price of air tickets will continue to rise astronomically .
He said: "The issue of
foreign carriers trapped funds is a key matter that the Federal Government
should urgently seek lasting solutions to.
One of the ways to go about resolving the matter is for the Federal
Government to agree to quarterly payment and ensure it keeps to the agreement
to clear the backlog.
"If the government fails
to do the needful, you will discover that one day foreign carriers will stop
flying into Nigeria, because the withholding of funds is affecting their
operations.
“You will recall that some
foreign carriers have stopped operating into Nigeria because of trapped funds
and other challenges."
On the state of airport
facilities across the country, the AFARN President called the relevant
aeronautical authorities to consider as priority the need to have globally
accepted facilities that guarantee safety and efficiency of flight operations.
He canvassed proper
utilization of existing airports, urging the Federal Government to scale up
operational equipment at the major corridors.
He faulted the proliferation
of airports across the states, describing efforts by some supranational
entities to litter their corridors with air transport facilities as
uneconomical.
The AFARN boss lamented that
the new terminal at the International Wing of Lagos lacks air side facilities
that would cater to the needs of foreign carriers with jumbo jets and other
wide-body aircraft.
He said: "The new
terminal lacks parking space and Avio- bridges.
Nigeria deserves good airport
terminals . We need to up the ante in the area of safety and follow regulations
and standards."
He further said foreign
carriers were getting worried over multiple aeronautical and non - aeronautical
charges as well as duplication of airport charges, which is affecting operators
in the sector.
On the agenda of AFARN for the
aviation sector in 2024, Nwokoma said: " Clearly we are in tune with the
appointment of the current aviation minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, by the
federal government who, for months now have assumed office and have also hit
the ground running, with a promise to reform the aviation industry, for the
common good.
"Although, the aviation
sector had witnessed an avalanche of ministers, with some of them found to
promote policies that inhibited growth and discouraged local entrepreneurs. We
expect a paradigm shift in the new dispensation given the premium placed on the
aviation industry by the Federal Government.
"We urge the minister to
take holistic look at the aviation sub- sector with a view to finding lasting
and permanent solution to the perennial scarcity of aviation fuel, currently sold
as high as #700 per litre, even more, high exchange rate of the naira to US
dollar, resolution of the long standing problems of remittance of funds owed
the foreign airlines.
"As safety campaigners
also, we want to see in clear terms the manifestation of the minister's promise
on strict compliance with national laws and regulations ; and international
obligations, improvement and development of infrastructure for passenger
convenience of local Airline Businesses, Human Capacity Development and optimization
of Revenue Generation.
"Worthy of mentioning
here also is the fact that, the Minister should as a matter of deep concern
beam his search light on safety issues, starting from checkmating the influx of
those who troops to the airports without genuine business concerns.
"Although FAAN has
remained upbeat in warding off undesirable elements at the airports, more still
needs to be done to avoid safety breaches that may not augur well for the
country especially this time Nigeria is challenged by insecurity."
Courtesy:
The Nation
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