Infrastructure decay impedes Nigerian airlines’ operations

Lack of the adequate infrastructure at the nation’s airports, particularly at the major ones, has led to growing concern among air travellers, according to the Managing Director of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema.

This is coming as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that due to the fast growing passenger traffic projected to rise to 7.8 billion in 2036, there is need to urgently address infrastructure challenges in order to secure the industry’s future.

In Nigeria, it is also projected that passenger traffic will more than double to about 35 million per annum by the same period.

Obviously, it has become inevitable that airport facilities must be expanded and modernised to take in the high passenger growth.

Onyema, who spoke at the recently held League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents’ (LAAC) 22nd Annual Seminar held last weekend in Lagos, cited the Lagos domestic airport where he said there is provision for only one scanning machine for travellers, which he stated causes delay for airlines.

Also, global aviation consultant, Mr. Nick Fadugba, stated that lack of adequate infrastructure, particularly at the Lagos airport, has made Lagos not be an effective hub of aviation in West Africa.

Fadugba lamented that navigating the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the domestic wing, is very cumbersome considering that there are no light rail or efficient and effective transport system that links the two terminals.

He also took a swipe at the $500 million yet to be completed terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port-Harcourt, noting that that of Lagos does not connect to the one currently in use.

But industry observers agree that government had shown commitment to airport development, but is yet to meet the needs of airport infrastructure and called for greater commitment of funds to modernise airport facilities.

Observing that government may not be able to provide the needed funds, they said that government must initiate policies that would encourage the private sector to invest in airports.

Besides, they called for review of existing regulations to remove hindrances to private sector participation in the development of airport infrastructure.

Onyema equally reiterated that government of today in Nigeria needs to take urgent action to rescue Nigerian aviation industry.

He said: “When we look at the infrastructure in Nigeria, aviation infrastructure, it is far behind where we need to be. And we need to aspire to the global standard of excellence.”

He urged Nigerian government to take the Singapore and the Dubai aviation models to develop the sector.

“In Singapore and Dubai, their governments have harnessed aviation as a tool for economic development. Deliberately, decisively, they have taken aviation that, this is what is going to develop our economy,” he said.

“We are talking about Dubai, is it as big as Lagos? Singapore, I am sure you can fit it in Lagos State. If there is no aviation, will we be talking about Dubai? We would not be talking of Singapore if not for the amazing aviation industry. It is a hub in Asia, a major hub.

“Dubai, of course, is a major hub in the Middle East and yet they built it with nothing that we have in terms of the population. What is the population of Singapore? In Nigeria, we have 180 million people of entrepreneurs and I am talking from the board chairman to the market woman or man. They are all business people, they fly. I have been at Murtala Muhammed Airport and profile passengers, young men and women travelling going to China. It is amazing. It is marvellous. I do not see it in South Africa.”

Besides, he noted that there is absolutely no reason why Nigeria should not have two or three thriving airlines, adding that the country has the aviation product in terms of passengers and cargo demand.

“I do not believe sincerely that Nigeria need more than maximum, three large airlines. We can have niche airlines,” he said.

Onyema stated that instead of the carriers complaining about government all the time, they should work together, hinting that he wants to see a more practical and achievable cooperation.

Wole Shadare