A group of Nigerian pilots has called on the Federal Government to establish a national carrier not only to host the flag of the nation on international routes, but also to boost tourism traffic to Nigeria.
The 29 pilots, led by Captain Daniel Adeyileka, on a tour of Lacampagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, pointed out that the essence of having a national carrier, among others, was to project and promote the tourism potentialities of a country on international route and destination.
“It is only a national carrier which can simultaneously saddle itself with the patriotic zeal of selling the cultural-tourism value of the country, in other continents in addition with the business of flying passengers for profitability. This is why nations which are determined to promote tourism potentialities of their states, first of all established functional and efficient national carriers.”
The pilots lauded the planter of LaCampagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye for nurturing and developing ‘the best resort in West Africa, which is of tropical contents and international attraction.’
They pointed that ‘lovely resort can also be best promoted better if Nigeria can have its own national carrier where such tourism site can be promoted.”
Captain Adeyileka, who started flying a plane locally at age 17 before venturing into international space at 18, described the absence of a national carrier “as a disservice to the nation which deprives it of international respect and pride at the comity of international aviation countries.”
He pointed out the essence of national carrier is not only a snag in the wheel of the tourism, but also a disappointment to the growing crop of Nigerian pilots who are dreaming of flying their countries aircraft.
Captain Adeyileka revealed “we are always at pains at international fora when some of our colleagues always dreamt and talk glibly about flying their countries planes,while we have no hope of doing the same in our country.
He pointed out that many foreigners love to visit Nigeria, but most of them are being discouraged by the deluge of negative report and information being churned out daily on the international platform.
Captain Adeyileka said that the countries with less tourism potentialities and economic value have been able to establish and maintain national carriers which have helped to sustain and enhance their aviation and tourism sectors.
He appealed to the Federal Government to establish a national carrier and dissipate energy on strategy by which positive and good news about Nigeria will be highlighted more than the ugly ones.
Captain Adeyileka pointed out “for instance, most of the reports we read outside Nigeria about Nigeria do not include beautiful and lovely reportage of heaven on earth like Lacampagne Tropicana Beach Resort.”
He pointed out “the country is lucky to have a crop of professionally trained and qualified pilots who are willing and ready to be stakeholders and support the inauguration and growth of a National Carrier. We are hopeful that very soon our dream will come to pass and the Aviation and Tourism sectors will be better for it.”
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