There is palpable fear over safety in airline operations in Nigeria, with a warning for the country to ensure the prevention of air disasters.
There are growing concerns among aviation sector operators and stakeholders on the need for the Federal Government to inject bailout funds to ensure smooth operations.
Many of them, who spoke during the recent public hearing in the aviation sector, lamented the N4bn bailout fund proposed in the 2021 budget.
However, the Senate on Monday raised the alarm that many of the operators were finding it difficult to put their aircraft in good shape.
It urged the federal government to urgently intervene with N50 billion bailouts to the airliners as against the paltry N4billion being offered.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi ( APC Kogi ), at a news conference on Monday, said airline operators in the country could not pay high taxes imposed on imported service parts for their aircraft by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
He said, “If the airline operators are unable to provide brake pad and the plane skids off the runways, what do you think will happen?
We are saying this because the executive and the President must hear this that we should not allow the airline operators to cut corners.”
He wondered why the customs was imposing high import duties on airline operators in Nigeria while other African and developed countries were granting waivers and supporting the sector with huge bailouts.
This, he said, was hampering effective operations and a threat to air safety.
He also lamented the Inability of airline operators to access Foreign exchange as and when due to purchase parts.
He said some African countries were giving special considerations to airline operators to access Forex to purchase service parts to make their planes efficient.
He cited the example of Senegal that recently gave a $74million bailout to the sector in the country, Rwanda – $150million and the United States of America ( USA) -$58billion.
Adeyemi said, “In most nations, there are special considerations for airline operators because they must not cut corners. If the part is needed in three weeks’ time and it is not available and the operators decide to be managing, well you know what will happen.
“Let me explain what they are doing in some African countries so that you can understand what we are saying because when you are convinced with your facts we would say these are the facts that we have gathered. It is left for those who are in the industry to dispute our position but this is the information we have gathered.
“I want to put it on record that there is danger in flying in Nigeria today. There are instances of some planes skidding off the runway.
“We must support the airline operators pending when we have our own national carrier. But if we want to continue with the operators like most nations are doing today, we cannot afford to leave them on their own, because they will want to be in business and struggle to make a profit, and by extension, there will be cutting corners.”
Listing the challenges confronting the aviation sector, Adeyemi said, “Operational challenges running down their businesses as confided in the Aviation Committee are non-compliance of the customs department with the executive order to waive any form of taxation on the importation of spare parts and commercial aircraft.
“Non-compliance of the executive order on the removal of Value added tax (VAT) from air transport.
“The inability of the airline operators to have access to single-digit lending as obtainable in other parts of the world.
“The inability of the airline operators to access foreign exchange as and at when due to enable them to pay the value-added tax for their aircraft,” he said.
He added that though the federal government due to COVID-19 pandemic adverse effects on the sector, planned to give out N4billion bailout but based on a comprehensive assessment of the pathetic situation at hand, not less than N50 billion is required for such intervention.
According to him, the N4 billion announced by the Federal Government as bailout funds for airline operators will not be sufficient to sustain three of the needs of the 15 scheduled flight operators.
This, he noted, had started affecting the business environment and could spell doom if not addressed.
He said, “Our further enquiry has also shown that airline operators are already discouraged and have resorted to cutting corners in carrying out maintenance requirements on their aircraft.
“This is of course as a result of their poor financial situation. If this is not immediately checked, the effect is best imagined than experienced.
“As duly elected representatives of the people, we are mandated to take seriously any issues which may have adverse effects on the lives of the people we represent. Where we see red flags, we should immediately bring this to the attention of the people and ultimately, the Federal Government.
“It is important to note that the safety recorded so far in the aviation industry in Nigeria is primarily due to the availability of the spare parts, and a conducive atmosphere to operate.
“Let us note that no amount of money is worth the life of even ONE NIGERIAN and it’s on this note that we call the immediate and urgent attention of the Federal Government on the need for the increase on bailout funds for air line operators.”
