The Nigerian House of Representatives has called for reforms in the aviation sector.
The call was made at a meeting with the minister of Aviation, Hadi Serika and operators of local airlines in the country.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila while addressing a meeting said that aviation is a gateway to any country and something needs to be done about local terminals of Nigeria airports.
He said that with the level of work going on at the airports, the Nigeria aviation sector was bouncing back to business.
Speaker Gbajabiamila said that as far as Nigeria was concerned, there was a need to find out the facts about the Aviation sector as this sector is very critical to Nigeria.
The speaker said that he was confident with the leadership of the current minister of Aviation but it was important to always clear the air.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, in response to some of the issues raised, said that Nigeria Air is limited to work before the end of December
“We have given every single Nigerian in the sector the opportunity to participate in this airline. I want to commit here that between now and December, the airline will work”.
He also noted that most of the terminals under construction will be commissioned before the end of the current administration.
“The road map is going to be private sector driven. The government is committed to the improvement of airports.
Airports are no longer just spaces for landing and take-off, they are for businesses. We have ordered for twenty training airlines that use fuel and nine have been delivered. The government has also given us thirty hectares of land for expansion” Sirika said.
He however promised that in no time, everything will be normal.
The minister explained that Nigeria has only five percent in the Nigeria Air project because the ministry does not believe that the government getting involved in business will do well.
He cited the case of Nigerian Airways which was run down because of government involvement.
“The reason for the five percent is because we want the business to have a good start. All the monies for the start-up will be factored into the five percent. During the negotiations, things might change” The minister said.
The minister also stated that Nigeria Air limited carrying the flag of Nigeria does not mean it must belong to Nigeria.
He said that there was a complete misconceptions about the ownership of Nigeria Air limited, as the government owns five percent but other Nigerian stakeholders hold forty-six percent of the business totaling fifty one percent.
He said that there was a need to open up the Airways so that Africa controls its airspace.
“If Nigeria does not have a strong airline, it will lose out. Ethiopians may seem to be competitors to us now, but soon, will become partners. Access to capital is very important to the aviation business. We do not have a structure where we receive capital.
“Government has taken a position and that position is the establishment of Nigeria airline. But that does not mean other airlines will die. The more the merrier “ He said.
The minister insisted that the bidding process followed due process. The Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Hon. Nnoli Nnaji, argued that the decision to allow Ethiopians to manage the Nigerian airline was wrong being that Ethiopia was a big competition
The Deputy Chairman said that what is going on now with Ethiopia amounts to selling Nigeria’s rights.
Other lawmakers at the meeting pointed out that there was a need to think properly and come up with what will be of great benefit to the people and government of Nigeria.
Olusola Akintonde
