July 15, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has advised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to increase surveillance of aviation fuel suppliers.
Prof Obiora also advised that the Authority should only licence companies that meet the required standards to supply Jet A1 to airlines.
The airline operator gave the advice on Thursday, at the Annual All Markets Conference of Indigboamaka Progressive Market Association with the theme: ‘Catalysing Partnership with Traders through Innovation, Technology, Analytical, and Sustainability.
He said “There are certain measures that are taken before you accept or reject fuel. But more or less, I expect that the NCAA will carry out an audit of the suppliers. We have been calling for this audit before and ensuring that anybody who has the permit to supply fuel to airlines is properly audited and complies with the rules. We don’t have to wait for incidents, we can also control them before they cause any damage.”
Proffering a solution to the devastating effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the aviation industry, Pro Okonkwo suggested a N250 billion soft loan for the sector.
He is of the opinion that such an amount would go a long way to boosting the economy through the sector and not grants or free money as planned by the Federal Government
According to the UNA boss, the government should rather look at how it could use the savings from the fuel subsidy to strengthen business owners in the private sector in order to stimulate the economy and create wealth.
“I am one, who always supports anything that can be done to help the people. I advise that, if the government has made up its mind to do that (give out N500bn as palliative to Nigerians), there must be transparency and ensure that it gets to those who need it. However, I will always advise that giving palliative handouts is never a solution to our problems. They should look at how they will use the savings from the fuel subsidy to strengthen business owners and the private sector, stimulate the economy, and create wealth.
“If the Federal Government can set aside about N250 billion for the aviation sector as soft loans, not grant or free money to the aviation sector, what it means is that there will be more aircraft, which can be deployed to some of the new routes. It can also energise and capitalise on us going on international routes.
“The outcome is that there will be more people employed, revenue generated by the airlines and the government will make more money. Flying overseas will bring about foreign exchange earnings and it will reduce the pressure. By and large, it will help people who don’t have jobs. This is not palliative, it will increase revenue, create wealth.
“My take is that while the government is taking the other side of the handout, it is also important that they use the resources to strengthen the private business owners. These are the people, who used their guaranteed capital to create wealth and jobs and grow the economy,” he said.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
