July 07, (THEWILL) – The reforms in Nigeria’s aviation industry are operating at an unusual altitude of professionalism, integrity and inclusiveness. In an uncommon twist of events the sector is beginning to reposition Nigeria’s image against what the international community knows – a country with unusual creativity for doing what is not right.
From the menace of touting to the ‘big man’ attitude of the Federal Government officials who would not pay toll fees, the impunity of illegal private jet operations and the temerity of fraudulent auctioning of the nation’s aircraft, the industry is wearing a new look.
A fact that emanates from this aviation revolution is that the process unlocks avenues for revenue boost, as the government aims at enhanced tax revenue by expanding the tax loop as against imposing more taxes and also dealing with this hydra-headed monster called multiple taxation.
Recent developments in the aviation space, therefore, are not only amazing but points to the bright weather of cultural transformation – away from the cloudy tradition of leadership by bad example.
Recently, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended 10 private jet operations over failure to begin the recertification process.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Friday, in Abuja.The agency said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 forbids holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flights from using their aircraft for carriage for commercial operation or charter services.
As a result of flagrant disregard of this rule, the NCAA promptly suspended the PNCF of Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd and Matrix Energy Ltd.
Others are Marrietta Management Services Ltd, Worldwide Skypaths Services, Mattini Airline Services Ltd, Aero Lead Ltd, Sky Bird Air Ltd and Ezuma Jets Ltd.
This is coming on the heels of a move by FAAN to stop touting at the airports
At a media interaction with journalists, the Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, said the agency would establish a dedicated task force to be headed by its director of Special Duties Henry Agbebire to address the menace.
FAAN said it would engage all government agencies operating at the airports to ensure compliance with the anti-touting and anti-extortion measures, adding that magistrate courts would soon be established at the nation’s international airports to prosecute offenders.
THE Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has moved to compel politicians, government, and military personnel, including heads of ministries, departments and agencies and other security services to pay the mandatory fares at tolled airport access roads.
Keyamo insisted that earlier exempted VIPs, ministers, military officers and others do not have ‘free pass’ and must pay to optimise the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and others’ revenue. Industry watchers had urged the government to ensure that the declaration is rigorously enforced.
Keyamo projected that the MMIA could generate N250 million monthly from tollgate fees charged on vehicles commuting through its access road. Observers say it could be higher, given the high volume of traffic at the country’s premier airport.
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, ordered the immediate arrest of an alleged unlicensed auctioneer and the Director of Quality Control of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology for allegedly providing false information on oath, over the sale of two helicopters at $1.2m.
THEWILL had exclusively reported that two FG-owned helicopters were fraudulently ‘auctioned’ way below market value by former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and now kept in in the US Florida Airport,
This newspaper confirmed that two Bell 206L-4 model helicopters belonging to the Nigerian College of Civil Aviation (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna, that the now-indicted former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika, ‘auctioned’ way below their market value towards the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration are now in a hanger operated by Dynamic Helicopters, Number 821-3, NE, 10 Street, in Pompano Beach, Florida, United States waiting to be resold at market value,
THEWILL further reported that the circumstances surrounding the ‘auction’ of the helicopters at a combined value of USD$1.2m are presently being investigated by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.
“Nigeria’s aviation space stinks. It is a gateway of corruption, impunity and wrong behaviour. The moral burden the menace imposes on the country is alarming.
“If Festus Keyamo succeeds in reforming the aviation sector, combined with the CBN’s successful offload of huge payment backlogs earlier owed the international airlines, the aviation sector can breathe the breath of good health,” said Kingsley Douglas, an aviation expert.
