Since your administration marked its three years in office two days ago, having been sworn in on May 29, 2015, a lot of water had passed under the bridge which actually made it necessary for that day to be remembered like any government in power will do.
In the speech you gave to mark the day, you made mention of some achievements your administration has recorded in the aviation sector under the ministry of transport.
According to your speech: “The transportation sector continues to undergo a series of reforms in order to sustain the international best practices and ensure safety and security. The nation’s major airports have witnessed reconstruction of runways, installation of navigational equipment and new international terminals due for commissioning in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu. Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and the governments of other countries will significantly open up new flight routes.
Your reference to these records has gone to show the importance of the aviation to your government and any government in any part of the world, as any government that chooses to handle the sector with levity will only be inviting disaster in view of the critical role the sector plays in the live of any nation.
Without doubt Your Excellency, you are trying your best in a delicate and complicated country like Nigeria with its myriad of challenges brought upon it by the many years of mis-governance, therefore, three years can never be enough to rebuild it.
However, Sir, while your administration and all the government’s parastatals and agencies joined in celebrating the success recorded so far, there is the need to draw your attention to certain areas in the country’s aviation sector calling for action.
In the first place, all the achievements you referred to in your speech were made possible by the efforts of workers made up of the various professionals who toiled morning and night to make activities within the sector seamless, secured and safe.
But the question on the lips of many is; if these workers both still in service and out of service have been duly compensated for their hard work.
While many of those in service have been left demoralised due to the non compliance with the civil service rules regarding promotions and appointments and many others, those controversially thrown out particularly the former Nigeria Airways workers are yet to be paid 14 years after the liquidation of the airline.
Other issues calling for attention include: the hostile business environment which is hampering domestic airline operations created by too expensive aviation fuel, multiple taxes and the ridiculous exchange rate between Naira and. foreign currencies.
Referring to the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) Nigeria signed with other countries which you said will open up the country, frankly, that is how it is supposed to be. But in Nigeria’s case, rather than improve the lot of the country and its aviation sector, the BASAs have only made the country a laughing stock before the whole world.
It is no longer news how majority of the agreements have been skewed in favour of the countries because of the unpatriotic tendencies displayed by the relevant officials at the ministry of aviation who failed to weigh the pros and cons of signing them.
For more than a year now, the administration has been speaking at various events of plans to float a new national carrier for Nigerians. While nothing much has been heard except the announcement that the airline will be delivered in December, only God knows how this will be feasible as the details have been kept in secrecy.
Even the so called privatisation of the four international airports that have been so much publicised is hanging in the balance as there is nothing on ground to that effect therefore, while congratulating you for what you have done so far, in all honesty, the country’s aviation sector is very far from its Eldorado with the need for many unfriendly policies of government to be reviewed.
Among such unfriendly policies include: the ‘watery’ air services agreements so far signed which is enriching the foreign airlines and their home countries while the indigenous airlines are totally neglected, the multiple taxes, the multiple entry points to foreign airlines, high cost of fuel and its non-availability, unnecessary politicisation of the sector which is responsible for lopsided appointments and employments and the failure to reward workers adequately.
It is only when these critical sector is given the required attention it needs that this government can achieve more because the sector has one of the best set of professionals who can only do more in a more friendly environment.
and then