The former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and Chief Executive Officer of Topbrass Aviation, Mr. Rowland Iyayi has said that the aviation industry in Nigeria is not structured for growth.
Speaking at the just concluded 27th annual conference of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, with the theme: Aviation industry, changing times, changing strategies, held at Providence Hotel in Ikeja on the topic, enhancing airline profitability in Africa, Iyayi noted that the country needs to start by cleaning its house house first.
He observed that Aviation is an industry that needs the players to be proactive.
Iyayi stated that even appointments in the industry are made on the basis of ethnicity and not based on merit.
He pointed out that even Emirates Airlines everybody seems to be applauding started with two aircraft and crew and then expanded from there.
Former NAMA boss maintained that Nigeria’s agencies are over staffed with more support staff than technical staff needed.
He stated that even the International Air transport Association, IATA, has observed that taxes in Nigeria are very high.
Iyayi said the authorities need to fundamentally review the fees and charges of the agencies, because their frees are too high.
He observed that the
Paul Dike Committee on ways forward for aviation in Nigeria recommended for a three tier licensing system for airlines which is not adhered to .
He urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to review policies that are detrimental to the growth of the airlines.
He disclosed that Nigerian airlines are considering Domestic Network Alliance for the domestic airlines so that passengers can use one ticket in any airline.
Iyayi stressed the need for a national connectivity agenda where country will have small airlines covering the six geo political zones , with a 20 seater seater aircraft or more.
Top brass boss pointed out that profitability of airlines is not based on the number of aircraft but on efficiency of its operations.
He said if we take the topic, enhancing airline profitability in Africa
from home to Nigeria first, it will impact on the continent .
For airlines to be profitable in Africa, we need to start cleaning our house by knowing how this airlines can be accountable, profitable, efficient, and there must be a succession plan, so that they can deliver, Iyayi stated.
In his welcome address, the chairman of LAAC, Mr Olusegun Koiki noted that Irrespective of divergent views held by stakeholders on the industry’s operating environment, safety standards and regulation, airline operations, airports management, airspace administration, manpower development, Jet A1 pricing and supply, ground handling and other issues, it is very clear that the country is in changing times and as a result, cannot do the same thing over and over same way and keep expecting a different result.
Koiki said the industry
needs to change its strategies for aviation development, especially in the 21st century and under a new administration.
According to him, this year’s conference: ‘Nigeria’s Aviation Industry: Changing Times, Changing Strategies,’ was informed by the emerging changes in approach to aviation business as regards technology, manpower development and training, airline management and operations, financing and other aspects of the aviation industry.
LAAC Chairman stated further that the global aviation industry will be determined by three factors in the next 77 years which will include, a global market, sustainability, and transformative technologies.
He observed that the global market is not only a driver because of where planes are flying, but also because of where companies, manufacturers, and supply chains are located.
Koiki said: “Sustainability of the aviation industry is going to be a major driver in the years to come. This is sustainability in terms of the environment and climate change, which the world is already battling with. Transformative technologies will be a major force for the industry and it will be very fast-moving and markets will have to contend with how to integrate them and how to do it quickly.
We definitely need to do things differently if we expect Nigeria’s aviation industry to realise its full potential in Africa and the world, a feat that the location of the country has already positioned it to achieve, but for avoidable human factors. No local aviation sector”.
While explaining that the air traveller or passenger is a very critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Koiki observed that many failures in performance recorded by players such as poor airports infrastructure and flight cancellations and delays without compensation in line with regulations are products of a downplay of interest of the flying public, which boomerang on the image of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
In the words of Koiki: “This is not exactly how aviation works in other climes today. You would agree with me that we definitely need to do things differently. Times have changed. We must change our strategies.
Aviation as a vital segment of Nigeria’s economy does not operate in isolation. Our activities as players significantly affect individual lives and allied businesses outside the industry. Therefore, it is important that in the execution of our various roles as stakeholders, we incorporate considerations for air travellers’ interests and the interest of other airport users. Both government and private business concerns should in policy formulation, also be concerned about the economic interest of airlines, handlers and other service providers”.
