Aviation world has left Nigeria behind due to ineffectual polices—NANTA boss
President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), the downstream sector of the aviation sector, Mr. Bernard Bankole has decried the season of toothless policies and regulations that have been keeping the nation’s Aviation industry in retrogressive motion in the last few years.
In an interview with Aviation Correspondents, he decried that before, during and after Nigeria exited recession, “I can say that there is really no tangible gain as it were. I can say categorically that the aviation world has left Nigeria behind”.
According to him, “When you look at the gains that have been made in other countries around the world, and Africa in particular, it is huge and the world will not wait for Nigeria.
“This should be a wakeup call for us to start seeing how we can develop the most sensitive industry in the Nigerian economy.
“You will all agree with me that aviation is not an industry that should be neglected in any way or any manner.
“I think, to a very large extent that was why the Federal Government gave it a special portfolio under the ministry of transportation, and a minister was attached to it. But be that as it may, we haven’t seen much growth as expected in the industry to the point that even the downstream sector is feeling the impact.
On government’s policy to drive the aviation growth, Bankole lamented that “We haven’t seen any policy that enhances the growth of the industry”.
“In terms of infrastructure, it was just of recent that the Port Harcourt and Abuja airports’ new terminals were opened. But when we talk about infrastructure, it goes beyond new terminal.
“As we speak, the runway in Enugu is so bad that it is a disaster waiting to happen. Flights cannot go to Owerri conveniently, because the airport would have been shut before they get there. Once it is past 5pm the airport is shut.
While querying what is happening to the biggest black race in the world?, NANTA boss argued that “Air transportation is one area I would have expected the government to emphasis and make sure that it is developed to enhance the movement of people”.
“Year-in year-out we keep having local airlines die. When a new one comes onboard, an old airline dies. Even at that, we are yet to sit down to really understand why the old domestic carriers are dying.
Continuing, he called for a review of the policies tax regime in the industry to find out if airlines have comparative advantage as local operators.
He also suggested that such review will among other things, find out what benefits are they getting from the government to keep them in business.
In his further submission, Bankole regretted that since this administration come on board, “I think the government has paid more of lip service than giving the industry the attention it deserves. I would have thought that with the kind of funds the government has made available, we could have done a lot more than we are doing”.
