The Spokesperson, Airline Operators of Nigeria and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, said local airlines need a special window to access foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, he also called on the new Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, to partner with other government agencies to fish out the bad eggs in the system, who specialize in making things more difficult than it already is.
He said “You have naira and you can’t convert it to dollar. So, the solution to this is for our minister to understand that we need a special window with the CBN to access foreign exchange.”
According to Okonkwo, “The new minister should work with other agencies of government to rid the sector of speculators.
“There is no reason, no matter the international price of crude oil, that the aviation fuel should be delivered to the pump for more than N500. Everything you see on top of it are speculations and I am calling out on NNPC staff to let this country free.
“It may not be entirely the responsibility of the aviation minister but he has to look and work with other government agencies to fish out the bad eggs within the system because the people doing all these harm are people in the system.”
He said there is a need for the aviation industry to be recognized as one of the essential industries in the country. He also warned the minister against interfering with the regulatory system already in place.
“The government and new aviation minister have to recognize the aviation industry as one of the essential industries in the country. It is no more for the rich only but a means of transportation.
“Talking about the volatile and toxic business environment, the aviation industry is most affected, because it is an industry where you make all your money in Naira as a local operator but require about 90% of your earnings to keep the aircraft flying in the air, that is in dollars.
“The current minister should not interfere with the regulations. We had a very terrible past where the regulatory employees were given employment letters from the federal ministry of Aviation. That’s absurd and unacceptable. So, let the regulatory system remain. Also look into the latest appointments that were made before the end of the last administration.”
The United Nigeria Airline Chairman also stated that the airline operators are doing their best to make the most of the challenges they are faced with.
“If you think tickets are expensive, then you probably don’t appreciate the sacrifices made by local operators. If we have to charge the fares, the way the costs are increasing every day, we should be paying not less than N250,000 from Lagos to Abuja.”
Chioma Kalu
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