Foreign countries capitalising on Nigeria’s imbalanced BASAs

IT is no longer hidden that the phrase ‘the chickens come home to roost’ has become very relevant to the scenarios playing out with regards to the unfair treatment meted to Nigeria through the lopsided air transport agreements existing between Nigeria and over 100 countries.

Prior to now, many key players have, at different fora, faulted the Bilat- eral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) on the premise that such agreements failed to put the interest of Nigeria into consideration when the agree- ments were being negotiated.

Pathetically, those responsible for the negotiations on behalf of Nigeria, who are from the BASA department of the Ministry of Aviation have for long been found wanting in the dispensation of their duties as they sit with the foreign carriers to negotiate these agreements on behalf of Nigeria with reckless abandon.

It is even on record that some of the Nigeria BASA negotiators, for per- sonal gains, shortchanged the country through the watery and one-sided agreements they often sign, which, in most cases, have been responsible for the humiliations and unfair treatment being meted to Nigeria and its indigenous carriers across the globe.

While some of the agreements allow foreign carriers to operate almost unhindered in the country, the reverse has been the case in their home countries as they collude with their home governments to lay the banana peels on the ground for any Nigerian carrier reciprocating the existing agreements with such foreign countries.

Among such areas of imbalance in the existing BASAs is the choice that al- lows foreign airlines operate simultaneously to the most lucrative airports in Nigeria and even struggle with the domestic carriers in other airports.

Despite the red carpet treatments foreign airlines enjoy in Nigeria, the Nigerian carriers designated to their countries are subjected to extreme aero politics through ridiculous and unfriendly policies.

Had the BASAs negotiated between the countries and Nigeria been clearly spelt out, including the gains accrued to all sides as regards areas of slot allocation, number of frequencies, approved entry points and other critical areas, all the shenanigans being thrown at Nigeria would have been avoided.

If other smaller countries around the world can enjoy their air transport agreements, Nigeria, with its potential and aviation strength, should have done better if not for the deliberate negligence on the part of so-called experts in the area who chose to play the spoiler’s game without recourse to the interest of the country.

It is almost unheard of that any country will allow a foreign carrier to operate 14 or more frequencies to its territory while none or one of its airlines is allowed to operate in the other country, all in the name of over protectionism.

It is only in Nigeria that the BASAs allowed a foreign carrier, which enjoys almost 21 frequencies loosely into its domain, will conspire with its country to deny an airline from the same Nigeria from operating freely.

Without doubt, the lackadaisical attitude on the part of BASA officials and other interested people in government is responsible for the ugly sce- narios playing out in the United Kingdom where its aviation authorities, in flagrant violation of the rules guiding the transport agreement it has with Nigeria, will deny virtually all the carriers so far designated from Ni- geria, the latest being Air Peace, access to the preferred Heathrow Airport whereas its two carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, on a daily ba- sis, operate to two of the best choice airports in Nigeria.

This injustice, which is not limited to the UK, had played out in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where its airlines, Emirates and Ethihad, were allowed to operate about 21 frequencies into their choice airports in Nigeria only for Nigeria’s Air Peace to be relegated to Sharjah Airport on the excuse of lack of space at the Dubai International Airport.

African countries are not exempt from this action as their governments have also engaged in unnecessary bureaucracy to hinder any Nigerian carrier flying into their countries.

Without doubt, even as the dust is yet to settle about the controversy over the Lagos-London route struggle, there may be a likely repeat of the same aero politics on the UAE-Nigerian route as UAE airlines gear up to resume flights into Nigeria.

The injustice may have lasted for long but there seems to be hope for Nigeria under the present government of President Bola Tinubu, whose singular effort helped in resolving the UAE/Nigeria crisis and the passion of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, whose law background will greatly help in reducing the illegality.