Aviation Ministry urged to restrict foreign airlines to airports in Nigeria

To further boost domestic air markets in Nigeria, the Federal Government again is advised to restrict all foreign airlines to either the airport in Lagos or in Abuja and not that all the airlines would be flying to both airports.

With this arrangement, the foreign airlines and the domestic airlines can interline to transport transit passengers to connect from the domestic airports of their living to the international connecting airports.

A seasoned aviation consultant, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), gave this advice in a position paper on the development of the nation’s aviation industry and which was presented to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo.

Ojikutu also advised the minister to discard completely the idea of establishing a National Carrier but rather two Flag Carriers, one for Regional and Continental and the other Intercontinental, calling for merge of Aero and Arik for the Regional and Continental and the Air Peace for Intercontinental.

Advising further, Ojikutu called for the upgrading of the Federal airports into five categories of A, B, C, D and E. According to him, airports in Category A should charge 100% (maximum) for services provided while the Categories B, C, D, E should respectively charge 75%, 50%, 25% and 10% of the Cat A.

The Ojikutu paper reads thus: He (Festus Keyamo) should discard his mind off and completely the idea of a National Carrier for at least two Flag Carriers, one for Regional and Continental and the other Intercontinental. Send AMCON out and Merge Aero and Arik for the Regional and Continental and the Air Peace for Intercontinental. However, a thorough economic Audits should be done on their assets and liabilities both local and international. Invite credible local and foreign investors to buy (25%) shares and the Nigerian public through the capital market 30% shares, FG and States not more than 10%  and the balance of 35% for the airlines owners.

For the Flag Carriers to effectively compete on the BASA Routes/Markets with the foreign airlines, we must restrict the foreign airlines to Lagos or Abuja and not anymore to Lagos and Abuja for anyone of them and additional one from the alternative geographical location to the airport of their first choice. However, anyone of them can make multiple frequencies of flights to the airports of their choices. The foreign airlines and the Domestic Airlines can interline to transport transit passengers to connect from the Domestic airports of their living to the international connecting airports. The aims of the restrictions to foreign airlines and interlining with domestic airlines is to create additional domestic markets for the Domestic Airlines.

The Federal Airports should grade graded in five, A, B, C, D and E. A should charge 100% (maximum) for services provided, while the Categories B, C, D, E should respectively charge 75%, 50%, 25% and 10% of the Cat A. The Domestic Airlines in particular and the international airlines can decide which of the airports is appropriate for their rates, fares, charges and their earnings.

On the airport concession, Ojikutu has this to say: All the Federal airports should be given out for concessions including the private airports that the ministry of aviation has taken over from states and private operators. It makes no economic sense for growth and development for the ministry to take over the private and States airports that are not viable with over 10 of the Federal airports that are also not visible and believe they can be developed with the financial resources of Lagos and Abuja Airports. Federal Government must concession each of the international airports with at least four of the Domestic Airports. However, the concession must be the non Aeronautical services only and not the Aeronautical services which are the government obligations to ICAO, Flights Safety and Security. The non Aeronautical services which are mainly the Passengers terminal buildings, Cargo Terminals, carparks, tollgates land and office rents, hangers, etc are not areas of concern to ICAO. Bi-Courtney MMA2 was built from ground zero and non of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) domestic terminals is comparable to that terminal today, sentiment apart.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should enforce the necessary Regulations that whoever is running any of the Airports must ensure that the periodic maintenance of the approach, landing and parking areas (Runways /Taxiways) and the associated lightings are audited as at when due. If the non Aeronautical services are giving for concessions, the Aeronautical services of FAAN must be excised to Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

There is urgent need to establish a National Air Traffic Control Services to be managed by the civil and the military authorities. The disconnect between the two led to the disastrous results of the 9/11. Most of our airports are join-users and the Airspace too are join-users. (FAAN can be a holding company for all the concession airports)

Aviation Security must not be given to any of the public commercial agencies in the airports but relevant Security Agencies with a single line of CONTROL and ADMINISTRATION. Anything short is to bring conflict. It is high time we act to the recommendation of ICAO of 2004 that Security Fences be built for our airports where the Perimeter Fences are not adequate to be upgraded into Security Fences.

Ojikutu counselled the minister against appointing people who lack requisite aviation skills and knowledge into strategic positions in the industry.

“Stop bringing other management skills into the Aviation industry operations which requires international knowledge and skills. We have been doing this for over twenty years with our brother and children directly from the universities and there had been no progress. One is from the recent ICAO report. Bring in the CEOs from wherever but not the Directors. Let the inside professionals grow up to become Directors and don’t kill their career progression,” said he.