BUSINESS Nigeria loses N2.4tr to foreign airlines yearly

Nigeria’s aviation industry loses $15 billion to international airlines, annually, in cargo and passenger flights, according to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

The huge capital flight, the association noted, made it impossible for any indigenous airline to contribute significantly to the country’s GDP.

Dubai-based Emirates contributes 22 percent to United Arab Emirates’ GDP, the association noted, adding that East Africa’s second largest airline, Kenya Airways, also contributes hugely to the country’s economy.

“If you look at all these airlines, they all take from Nigeria, why can’t we as a country sit down and think of how we can rein the market?,” queried Captain Nogie Meggison, Executive Chairman of AON.

Meggison noted that even if the country did something to reduce the capital flight in the aviation industry, it would make significant difference in the economy, as “not only the cash that would remain in the system, we are not talking about the employment opportunities and the structure that will support the industry.”

The $15 billion being taken out of the country annually is equivalent to 31 percent of Nigeria’s yearly income from oil, the AON executive chairman stated further.

He therefore urged the government to adopt policies that would foster the growth of indigenous airlines, especially those that would encourage them to operate international destinations.

AON also urged the government to give indigenous airlines the right to negotiate Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with foreign airlines, and that foreign airlines should be compelled to share frequencies with local airlines. (Ventures Africa)