Aviation business seems to be taking a different dimension as state governors are venturing into airline activities thereby boosting their internally generated revenue (IGR) in the face of dwindling revenue occasioned by economic recession the nation is currently going through.
Two states, Cross River and Imo have taken the initiative to float airlines which to many is a good concept.
In achieving their objectives, the two states have entered into partnership with Dana Air to help them run the airlines professionally.
According to the governors, Professor Ben Ayade and Rochas Okorocha, their venturing into airline business would boost economic activities and also increase IGR in their domains.
The development may look strange to many people, but it shows the economic challenges confronting the country are at least compelling leaders in the country to embrace diversification as a way of limiting the effect of the economic hardship.
Besides boosting economic activities through active tourism and increasing the states IGR, citizens of the states would be gainfully employed by the airlines.
Again, the entrance of states into airline business according to many will give the travelling public a relief as they will be free from the monopoly of operations by one or two airlines.
But as good as the decision is and for the fact that the governors may have good intentions in venturing into the business, there are so many obvious facts that are making many Nigerians particularly in the aviation sector to be pessimistic about the future of the project.
Over one thousand and one questions are waiting for answers from the two governors including if they actually realise the challenges of owning an airline in view of the huge capital it entails. How do the two states intend to fulfil their own part of the deal viz-a-viz acquiring and maintaining the aircraft?
Key players within and outside the aviation sector are of the opinion that as good as the decision may be, it is coming at a time when even the two states are hugely indebted to their workers.
While many are alleging that state governments have no business going into airline business because of its huge capital intensive nature, some are even saying that states that have embarked on such businesses in the past only wasted their state funds on such.
Those belonging to this school of thought cited the states which went into airport construction and later discovered it to be a colossal waste as such airports were nothing but mere political show.
It for this reason that many observers think states like Jigawa, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Taraba, Delta should consider exploring such options to generate revenues for their domains.
This way, the airports would be more viable to accelerate economic activities.
Absolutely, everyone has the right to his/her opinion but the issue is inasmuch as the decision of the state governments are not too bad, there is, however, the need for them to take precaution in ensuring the aim of venturing into airline business is not defeated.
The need for the states to consult well becomes imperative in view of the high doubt being cast on the success of the decision.
The governors must realise that in the face of increased scepticism over such partnership, how far such deals will go lies in the belly of time. Over and above all, it is a creative way out of recession.
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