Independence: Not yet uhuru for Nigeria’s aviation sector

61 years ago, the country called Nigeria, the most populous black nation got its independence from its colonial master, Britain.

Obviously, the country with its different sectors of economy has recorded some feats in areas of technology, education and transportation.

Coming to the aviation sector precisely, a lot has been achieved in the areas of domestic airline expansion with the statutory separation of the functions of the aviation agencies through their established acts which has prevented overlapping of functions.

The monopoly enjoyed by Nigeria Airways after its transformation from the West African Airways Corporation (WAAC), Nigeria in 1973 was, however interrupted with the birth of privately owned airlines like Okada, Kabo, Triax, Oriental, Concord, ADC and many others.

As the list of domestic airlines keeps increasing, domestic airline business keeps getting better and translating to a more seamless air travels though still not perfect.

The government aviation agencies have greatly moved from the time when they were all lumped together under the Nigerian Airports Authority (NAA) and the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) with the functions of each agency well spelt out.

The establishment and clear functions of each of the agencies spelt out has greatly led to noticeable transformation and coordination in the sector.

With all these years and the professionalism of those that had held sway and still holding sway in their various fields, the sector should have done better but for many somersaulting government policies that are dragging it down.

The worst thing to happen to the sector was its undue politicisation by the different governments who either out of ignorance or cheap political gains failed to realise the sensitivity of the sector as their actions ended up relegating professionalism and promoting mediocrity.

Between 1960 and now, the various government officials as led by the various aviation ministers had taken some unpopular actions which rather than improve the lots of the sector had only dragged it back. This lackadaisical attitude which has remained the bane of the sector still continues till tomorrow.

Focusing on the present government, there are numerous policies the government has put its hands on without due diligence which has further complicated issues working against the sector.

Such policies include: the back and forth position of the government on the over flogged promise to float a new national carrier eighteen years after the poor liquidation of the defunct Nigeria Airways.

The controversial plans to concession the only four viable airports across the country without clear due diligence is another injurious policy of the government.

The unpaid $500 million loan obtained from a Chinese company to execute the construction of modern terminal buildings across airports in the country is another keg of gunpowder waiting to explode with the careless way it is being muddled up.

There are many failed concession agreements that have attracted litigations which are still left unresolved while government is still putting hands into similar ideas and expecting them to sail through.

Despite all these anomalies, the government is still hell bent on going ahead with these wild cards even when the tenure is already winding down.

Going ahead with these gigantic projects may end up in regrets as the little time remaining will definitely only produce shoddy work which will compound the myriad of challenges on ground. All these back and forth positions of the past governments and the present government have continued to drag back the hands of the clock for the sector despite the entire available goldmine abounding. Until all these poor and unpopular policies are given a second thought, the road to greater heights is still far.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.