• Lagos airport suffers expansion neglect
• New stimulus package small,  Olowo lauds FG

There are indications that the Federal Government may have concluded plans to assist the aviation industry with $58.7 million as part of stimulus not only to the airlines but the entire aviation indystry in Nigeria.

A source close to the Presidency told woleshadarenews under condition of anonymity that the money was as a result of the outcome of meetings held in Abuja last month that comprised airlines, the various aviation agencies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), aviation ground handling companies and other essential service providers.

The Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu had last month told journalists at a Webinar that Federal Government was at the verge of helping airlines through a fresh round of bailout to save millions of jobs that ate threatened.

The NCAA DG said Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika presented the situation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Other beneficiaries according to him are aviation agencies, ground handling firms and other aviation related bodies.

“We have made consultations and we are still consulting, we have consulted with airlines, we plan to have another consultation with them and the ground handlers, we are developing a programme for an economic stimulus package, all inclusive, all the heads of agencies were recently locked up in a hotel in Abuja including the Minister to map out ways of getting stimulus for the sector. The minister presented a very good case on this with the Vice President”, he said.

But President, Aviation Round Table (ART) Dr. Gabriel Olowo described the $58.7 million funds as ‘paltry sum to cushion total negative effect of Covid19 in second, third quarters of 2020’ saying  that may not sufficiently address airlines and its allied loss of business.

Olowo in a statement to Woleshadarenews further stated that industry needs must be equitably priotised, just as he stated that government’s action was commendable and very necessary  and good attempt by government given the national income constraints during the year.

He noted that the identified seven project elements in the aviation industry cannot go together in a swoop under N27b estimated cost, asking government to priotise those that are key to a robust aviation sector in the country.

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“Individual projects not COVID-19 related should attract special focus and special funding.  All the project elements are key to a robust Aviation sector in Nigeria. Government’s action is commendable and it is very necessary and good attempt by government given the national income constraints during the year.”

He lamented that the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos adjudged to be FAAN’s income earner of more than 40 per cent is suffering huge expansion neglect.

He called for the Federal Government design a deliberate policy to make it a West African Hub to stimulate non aeronautical revenue, stressing that Accra, Cote d’Ivoire and Lome would do it if Lagos fails to emerge Africa’s aviation hub..

Olowo reiterated that hub competition of Lagos with other Nigerian airports  would never thrive  as much as Lagos because of its geographical location.

Experts said the advantages that come from being a hub include revenues from payment of landing and parking fees, servicing of aircraft, airport taxes, blossoming of the hotel industry and revenue from aviation fuel.

Citing an example of Dubai, Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Noggie Meggison noted that Dubai leveraged on its natural position to become a natural hub between the Eastern world and the Western world.

He said: “At the Murtala Muhammed Airport, there are no amenities for transit passengers. So, passengers will not want to spend money to transit through Nigeria, rather, they will transit through Dubai, where there are comfort facilities.

“If airline companies like Delta Airline are making a turnover of N2 billion and 60 per cent of passenger load  from Nigeria, then there is a need to harness the opportunities,” he added.