Aviation stakeholders set agenda for Keyamo
By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
Stakeholders in the aviation industry have advised the new Minister of Aviation Mr Festus Keyamo to ensure that the industry witness great transformation by working with right people in the system
The stakeholders want the minister to tackle myraid of problems in the aviation industry in order to bring back the glory of the industry
Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu, the CEO, Centurion Securities, said that none of the aviators appointed as Minister of Aviation in the past had performed better than non-industry persons in recent years.
He mentioned Capt. Benoni Briggs and Sen. Hadi Sirika with aviation backgrounds that were appointed in recent time by the government, but failed to live to expectations.
Ojukutu further explained that despite the fact that Sirika was the longest serving minister in the annals of the sector and with less disruption in the agencies, the industry recorded less growth in the past eight years.
He, however, pointed out that Sirika had less interference in the running of the agencies and appealed to Keyamo to take a cue from this, stressing that the issue of civil aviation responsibility should be left with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) without political interference.
Ojikutu also wanted the new minister to jettison the idea of a national carrier, but embrace the flag carrier option.
He added: “Keyamo should just remain in his office, but ensure that the airports concession go on as planned and forget about the planned, but make policies for flag carriers and leave further processes and operational regulations for the NCAA.
“The review of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangements should be his concern and that of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Justice.”
Dr. Gabriel Olowo, the immediate past President, Aviation Round Table (ART), proposed the abolition of Ministry of Aviation.
Rather, Olowo suggested that the ministry should be returned as a department in the Ministry of Transportation like it is in the United States, lamenting that a standalone Ministry of Aviation had deprived the sector of growth in the past years.
According to him, as a department in the Ministry of Transportation, there would be less political interference, while growth would also be accelerated.
He said: “I am of the school that it should be a department in the Ministry of Transportation, just as it is in the U.S. It will have less political interference and manipulations on Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and significantly reduce the cost of governance with already lean purse.
“The government should shut down the Aviation Ministry if Mr. President cannot appoint tested aviators such as Dr. Harold Demuren, Dr. Bernard Aliu and other tested aviation technocrats.”
Capt. Roland Iyayi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TopBrass Aviation, said that an aviation minister without industry background and deep knowledge of the sector would come in to learn on the job for some period of time.
Iyayi said that the sector could not afford a minister without industry experience at this time due to the complexity of the industry and the damage it has suffered from successive governments in the past.
He lamented that the Nigerian government has continued to do the same thing over the years, yet expected different outcomes, saying that the industry has been pushed to its brink and now in a comatose state.
Iyayi warned that the current sordid situation of the industry may get worse under the new government, but said the growth or otherwise of the sector depends largely on the agenda set by Keyamo and his vision.
He explained that the sector in Nigeria needed policies that would address the sub-optimal utilisation of infrastructure assets within the industry, while also making services affordable for all, especially the airline operators.
He said: “In terms of areas of focus, I guess that would be determined by his vision. However, given where the industry is at the moment, there is a dire need for a broad policy framework to deepen the penetration and reach of aviation in the economy.
“Additionally, a broad review of all the prescriptive and growth inhibiting policies are necessary immediately.
“Furthermore, the excess taxes, fees and charges arbitrarily imposed on airlines at the whims and caprices of the industry regulator and service providers must be reviewed and reversed immediately, otherwise we would be witnessing a string of airline failures in the not too distant future.
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“Other notable issues worthy of consideration would be the availability of foreign currency to address aircraft spares and maintenance, depopulation of the various agencies, engagement of competent personnel and proper remuneration to ensure retention, and importantly the simplification of processes by the regulatory body for ease of doing business.”
Besides, Iyayi canvassed culture change within the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), maintaining that the mindset of being the policeman of the industry must be changed to reflect their true remit of industry development and safety and security oversight.
