ASRT wants conducive business environment, low tax, charges for sector growth

• Seeks PPP support for infrastructure upgrade, lauds agencies’ chief

Aviation Pressure Group, Aviation Safety Round Table (ASRT), today held a session in which the group put forward to the Federal Government the creation of a business-friendly environment with low taxes and tariffs.

The body, in its first quarterly business breakfast meeting in 2026, held in Lagos, also sought transparent regulations, strategic investment in airports, incentivisation of airlines, and soft loans for aviation-related industries to drive innovation and the development of world-class infrastructure.

ASRT President, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju (Rtd) advocated the utilisation of the public-private partnership model for aviation infrastructure development, saying, “We still hold the view that funding aviation infrastructure through private-sector investments together with government support is the way to go.”.

“Without prejudice to the content of our amazing Amazon’s presentation, | wish to disclose that the ART expects a new MMIA intentionally designed to function as a regional and global hub with the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually, connect more than 50 airlines to more than 100 cities worldwide.”

“We are hopeful for an airport that can seamlessly blend efficiency. technology and a terrific passenger experience. We expect an airport with a strong commitment to continuous maintenance, innovation and expansion. We are also of the view that strong consideration should be given to the open skies policy to encourage international airlines, enhance competition and connectivity”, he stated.

During this policy advocacy session, the ART urged industry leaders to consider green aviation, sustainable fuels, and eco-friendly, futuristic airports.

On how to grow the aviation sector, Onitiju said there was a need to discuss the importance of an aviation hub in the efforts to boost the aviation sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Quoting the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), he said the aviation sector contributes approximately $1.7 billion to $2.5 billion annually to Nigeria’s GDP, adding that the sector supports over 216,000 jobs, including direct, indirect and induced benefits.

Aviation-linked tourism, he reiterated, also contributes about $454.1 million to the GDP.

He, however, lamented that infrastructure limitations, together with operational challenges, including rising costs, are among the impediments hampering the sector’s growth.

Nigeria’s air transport operations, according to him, are highly concentrated in Lagos at about 29%, Abuja at 32%, and Port Harcourt at 10.6%.

These activities account for over 70% of the sector’s GDP contribution, and, with regard to passenger traffic, the sector handles over 16 million domestic passengers and over 3.5 million international passengers annually.

He lauded the incredible jobs of heads of the aviation agencies for the work they are doing, saying, “It is customary with us at the Aviation Round Table to recognise and commend efforts by leaders of the industry when noticeable strides are made with a view to encouraging them to do more for our dear country-Nigeria while at the same time holding them to account and responsible to the Nigerian”.

“We are excited by the efforts of the present crop of leaders and policy makers in the aviation sector. Thus, when it became public that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, was to be refurbished, we felt we should hold a discussion session in a timely manner to complement the bold step so that the end result would meet the expectations of a substantial segment of Nigerians.”

Onitiju further stated that today’s session was conceived as a platform for policy advocacy, critique and appreciation, explaining that we assembled a formidable collection of industry leaders whose experience and sagacity are notable and respected to offer diverse perspectives on the theme.

Wole Shadare