The consistent surge in air fares as well as fleet depletion have continued to impact the sector due to the absence of a national carrier, experts tell BusinessDay.
Nigeria’s attempts to set up a national carrier have been met with mismanagement, poor safety records, corruption, and overstaffing.
Experts said having a national carrier is essential and of importance to the aviation industry and the country as a whole, as the cost of tickets will drop, give leverage, and also be the pride of the country.
“The cost of fares and import duties on aviation spare parts which are bought in foreign currency will drop if Nigeria has a national carrier,” John Dykes Okolo, Ibom Airline Pilot told BusinessDay.
He further said that having a national carrier will benefit the aviation industry and will bring in loads of customers from all over the world as other foreign airlines are doing at the moment.
A national carrier is owned and operated by the national government and usually has certain sovereign advantages while a flag carrier is a privately owned airline (or shipping line) flying the flag of its country on international operations and may enjoy certain privileges.
John Ojikutu, industry expert and the CEO of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, told BusinessDay that a National Carrier is like an Ambassador carrying a diplomatic passport, a National Flag Carrier is a State Official carrying an official Passport and a designated airline is just an ordinary citizen carrying a travelling passport.
There hasn’t been any national carrier since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, which was plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and overstaffing.
At the time of closure, the airline had debts totalling US$528 million (equivalent to US$838 million in 2023), a poor safety record, and its operative fleet comprised a single aircraft flying domestic routes as well as two leased aircraft operating the international network.
Hadi Sirika, the former Minister of Aviation from 22nd August 2019 to 29th May 2023, attempted to get a national carrier but failed to do so during his tenure as the minister.
Tunde Moshood, SA media and communications to the honourable minister of aviation and aerospace development told BusinessDay that there was a national carrier project until when Festus Keyamo became the minister and he suspended it.
He further said that the minister has submitted his findings on the Nigeria Air project and he is awaiting recommendation and response from the President.
Having a national carrier of our own comes with a lot of benefits for the aviation industry and the country as a whole.
He added that it will give us leverage, it’s going to be our pride, and we will have better opportunities to negotiate the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA).
“Like now, Air France comes into Nigeria like almost eight times every week, they fly into Lagos and Abuja and we do not have any airline going back to France
“If we have a national carrier, it will be automatic for us, and we don’t need too many talks to fly into other countries,
“Why we are writing to other countries like the UK for a slot is because Airpeace is not our national carrier
“We will be able to crash ticket prices, it is because there’s no reciprocity to run those routes that’s why those prices are high,” Tunde said.
John Ojikutu said he’s not in support of a National Carrier but designated National Flag Carriers.
He added that the Federal Government should no longer be involved in Commercial aviation businesses and services outside of Security and Safety Services Regulations Oversight and Enforcement.
“Nigeria Airways became a government carrier and that was what ran it aground. What is trending globally in airline operations and businesses are Flag Carriers.
“My suggestion after 2020 has been the designation of two flag carriers, one Regional and Continental and the other Intercontinental.
“As designated Flag Carriers on the BASA Routes, they must sell shares out to credible Nigerian investors, 10 per cent, Federal Government and state governments, 10 per cent, and the Nigerian public 20 per cent.
“The Airlines and possibly their foreign technical partners 60 per cent. Not any more consideration for a National Carrier which started way back in 1993 as a replacement for Nigeria Airways,” Ojikutu said.
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