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Stakeholders kick against conversion of Aero to national carrier

By on December 1, 2013

Stakeholders in the aviation sector have kicked against conversion of Aero to national carrier.

Speaking with our reporters in Lagos, Engr. Sheri Kyari, the Executive Director of Centre for Aviation Safety and Research (CAS-R) said he heard the rumour but that he was not so excited about designating Aero as the national carrier particularly when the whole deal is shrouded in secrecy.
“I have heard the rumour and it is a mixed grill really. Ordinary, I should be happy about Nigeria having a national carrier but the secrecy of the ownership structure of the national carrier is casting doubt on the whole process,” he said.
“If truly the federal government has 60 percent stakes in Aero through AMCON and if Aero must be named the national carrier, let the government take its 60 percent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange and allow Nigerians to invest in it. Also, government should persuade the owners of the remaining 40 percent to also drop their shares so Nigerians can subscribe. This will engender confidence in the process,” he noted.
He, however indicated that the best model for a national carrier is that a new company be formed and designated as such rather than converting an existing company, adding that board room politics may not allow the national carrier under the current arrangement to survive.
Engr. Kyari also noted that before any national carrier comes on stream, all entitlements of the liquidated Nigerian Airways be paid first.
On the calls by some lawmakers that Arik should be made the national carrier, Engr, Kyari frowned at the idea saying “Arik is rather promoting capital flight, hasn’t employed a lot of local staff and lacks good corporate governance culture.”
He noted that Arik can’t occupy such huge facility as the GAT and still be maintaining aircraft abroad, adding that it shows Arik isn’t investing enough locally.
Also the Chief Executive Officer of Medview Airline, Alhaji Munir Bankole has advised the federal government against getting involved in running a national carrier.
He rather urged government to create an enabling environment for investors in the industry so they can provide necessary services to the people.
Bankole, a former staff of the defunct national carrier – the Nigeria Airways – said “the high level of  impunity exhibited by those that  managed  affairs of the national airline in the 70s and 80s that led to collapsed of the airline may still repeat itself.”

 

 

 

[Daily Trust]