Inability to service BASA deals sealed by Nigeria, 88 others driving capital flights, job loss
Investigations by Business Hilights Aviation team have revealed that Nigeria had signed Bilateral Air service Agreements (BASA) with about 88 countries across the world, but has failed to effectively reciprocate the agreements.
The development has resulted in massive capital flight and job losses because many other foreign carriers rely on the deals to rake in millions of dollars out of the country on a yearly basis.
Another angle that has been very worrisome is the scarcity of forex hitting hard on businesses in the country, causing the absence of a maintenance hanger thereby forcing local airlines to continuously spending millions of dollars outside the country for routine maintenances of their fleets abroad.
However, relief seems underway following the appointment of German carrier, Lufthansa to serve as advisers to help Nigeria set up a national airline and develop infrastructures including functional hanger in the aviation industry.
Part of the deal is to meet the national aspiration of creating a hub within the West African sub-region
Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika disclosed recently that a group of six firms including to be lead by German carrier, Lufthansa, would advise the government on setting up a national carrier, an aviation leasing company and a maintenance hanger, as well as create concessions to run the country’s airports.
Business Hilights gathered that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved N1.52 billion ($4.99 million) of funding for the project.
Industry experts say they would gladly welcome the government’s move to float a new national carrier and maintenance hanger since it would stem the regime of capital flight out of the country.
But analysts fear a possible abandonment midway just as what happened to the highly celebrated plans of the same government to float a national carrier in shipping.
