Aviation experts and professionals have called for the total overhaul of the sector to reactivate its growth, increase contribution to the economy and make it a hub in the Africa continent.
They made the call at the Brunch Business Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative, ART in Lagos with the theme: ‘Agenda for a New Administration, (Increasing the Numbers)’.
According to them, for the industry to perform at an optimal level, there must be a comprehensive and implementable roadmap that can help to rejuvenate the sector and the economy as a whole.
They noted that Nigeria has the wherewithal in terms of population, position, volume of passengers, the manpower and experience to dominate and be the number one hub in Africa.
Chairman of the event, Senator Musa Adede while emphasizing the critical role played by the sector in the socio-economic development of the country said, government must genuinely support Nigeria airlines as flag carriers to reciprocate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA.
“What we are looking for is Flag carriers, support your own, why do you have foreign airlines fly into Nigeria and you cannot find ground nut onboard, they give you peanuts, you cannot find one Nigeria cabin crew on board, why is our own different because our ministers have sold out”.
President, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative, ART, Dr. Gbenga Olowo in his address stressed cooperation, collaboration and merger of indigenous airlines to compete favourably with foreign carriers.
He said, this would help to address the exorbitant airfares by foreign airlines and reduce trapped funds amongst others.
“Foreign airlines must be restricted to a single point of entry into Nigeria and that is the way to go so that we can rescue the market from the foreign powers, we need to fly our own”.
Vice President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Mr. Allen Onyema harped on passenger education to understand the operations of the airlines and stop the upsurge condemnation due to delays and cancellation of flights.
He said, urgent attention must be given to infrastructure development and the regulatory agency, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA be allowed to be truly autonomous by the supervisory ministry.
“We have to overhaul the airlines, overhaul the passengers themselves, the agencies and if possible the government should overhaul their policies and I support the position of total overhaul because what passengers do in Nigeria is unbearable things they cannot do in Cotonou they do it here”.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of new excos of the body and a book Chronicling the activities of ART at 20.