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AU, ECOWAS to lead in Africa’s aviation development-ACI President
The newly elected President, Africa region of the Airports Council International (ACI), Saleh Dunoma has said that the council is in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on how to improve air services on the continent.
He also unfolded plans to work with governments in Africa on how to develop aviation by speaking with them through Africa Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Dunoma who is also the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and who spoke exclusively to Woleshadare.net in his office in Lagos said aviation is an engine for economic developments for it supports seven million jobs in the continent, contributes more than $70 billion to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that when it is compared to that of the world, a lot is to be done in order to meet the expected standard. .
He reiterated that there are lots of projects going on at airports across the continents, adding that countries in Africa are providing infrastructure.
His words: “It is not the size of the building that determines the traffic. You have navigational facilities, ground services and runway are the things airlines work at before coming to any airport. It is also good for the passengers to have good, beautiful terminals. We try to comply with these standards.
“We need proper and improved air services. We need collaborate with AFRAA, ICAO and IATA to develop our airlines to cover the entire African continent. We need to collaborate with stakeholders. We need to make aviation industry in the continent robust and harness the sector’s potentials.Aviation in Africa is essential and irreplaceable transport service. African governments realize and recognize this fact.
African airlines are shrinking and non-African airlines are growing.
“As it stands today, 82 per cent of intercontinental travel is carried by non-African airlines. Only 18 per cent market share is carried by all African airlines put together. This is a very daunting challenge. It is a concern for African airlines. Serious concern should be given to African airlines.”
Very recently, IATA launched a report on the economic impact of Intra-African air connectivity. During the launch of the programme, IATA stated that governments must work together for the implementation of Intra-African air service liberalisation-Yamoussoukro Decision which liberates the African air space for African airlines.
To boost intra-African air connectivity, Dunoma said apart from improving on intra-African connectivity, ACI is helping on the improvement of safe and secure aviation environment by upgrading the continent’s aerodromes and services.
Speaking on the vexed concession of four of the nation’s airports, the ACI President allayed fear over the exercise, stressing that concession is good not only for airports but many businesses all over the world.
“We need infrastructure and require a lot of renewal and this requires capital investment. All over the world, government starts building airports but much later, they find out that they can no longer meet up with infrastructure gaps and more money is needed. It is a win-win situation both for the government and investors.”
He backed the plan by the Federal Government to concession the Lagos, Enugu, Port-Harcourt and Abuja airports, just as he described airport concession as risk sharing, adding that if concession is done properly, openly and transparently with all issues covered, it becomes an interesting venture.
“The investor is going to bring his money, expertise and share risks and gains with the airport owner. A lot of people confuse privatisation with concession. We have a lot of concession. We have a lot of concessions at the airports; while some are successful others are not.”
Dunoma said the improvement of the country’s image by the present government enhanced his election as ACI President for Africa, coupled with the size of the country and the strategic position of Nigeria as a big aviation market.
ACI represents airports interests with governments and international organisations such as ICAO, develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports, and provides information and training opportunities to raise standards around the world.
