By Paul Ukpabio
Nigeria has tried unsuccessfully to set up a national carrier after the defunct Nigerian Airways went into extinction. Still battling with the hope of having a national carrier, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, recently said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was ready to invest in the project, after the failed attempt with Nigeria Air.
ThisNigeria sought out the opinion of stakeholders and other Nigerians who are frequent air travellers, about the proposed Nigerian carrier.
In her opinion, Elizabeth Yakubu, who works in a Port Harcourt-based oil company, said there should have been a proper forensic investigation into why the former Nigeria Airways failed.
“There were obvious management gaps, the syndrome of appointing incompetent people into management positions, government officials not paying for tickets, and so on. We have the same syndrome playing out in the Sheraton hotel and towers Abuja and we can see the decay already. So, before sinking money into another airline, the government should ensure the right controls are put in place to make profit attainable,” she said.
Yakubu faulted the minister’s claims that the proposed airline would start operations with three wet-leased aircraft because it would take about three to five years to deliver an aeroplane that was ordered for.
“Has any country started a national airline that way? How much will the lease cost? How much is the cost of maintenance, fuelling, staffing, and so on? Will all these costs be recouped via regular flights to offset the lease or expenses and still make a profit?
“Can the feasibility studies be made public so that astute businessmen can confirm the actual viability before Government sinks more money a sinkhole? These are the questions that need urgent answers,” Yakubu queried.
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She also disagreed with the government’s position of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for funding.
The Minister had said, “The private sector will lead and deliver while the government will play its role. Viability funding is also being addressed. After that, then the full business case which is the implementation stage. It is at that point that it will be advertised for people to come in and participate.”
Yakubu simply asked, “Why can’t the public-private aspect be at the fore? We have several private companies doing very well in the airline sector. They can be approached and their expertise harnessed. We could also get a foreign firm to provide guidance. This country is too old to keep initiating white elephant projects. We will not forget the cost of setting up the website for this same airline a couple of years ago.”
A security analyst and farmer, Chijioke Okonkwo, said he does not believe government should invest in a national carrier right now.
“Government doesn’t have a good track record of operating anything with profit. I feel Government has a role to play and make a lot of funds in setting up a vehicle that would be a national carrier without having a hand in her operations.
“We have two Airlines locally Air Peace and the fast-growing Ibom Air that could fill the shoes of becoming the vehicle for the national carrier. These airlines need to go through rigorous requirements to be prequalified and the best selected. All that is required with the national carrier is the political backing to get the international routes and ensure international standards are kept.”
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Another security analyst, Mr Isaac Ejembi, said, “This is an ill-advised, ill-timed, and potentially ill-fated adventure. It’s a misplacement of priority and another white elephant project in the making. Given the huge debt which the government is contending with and its demonstrated failure to manage a business, the government should focus on creating an enabling environment for private investors to run airlines and other businesses and not to come and compete with them.
“It begs the question of whether government which should be an industry regulator will become a competitor and whether it can in that circumstances, assure a level playing field.
“Government should focus on improving aviation safety and standards, upgrading airport infrastructure, and providing incentives for more investors to go into the aviation business.”
A major aviation stakeholder, who craved anonymity, stated, “We are not a serious people so I don’t trust the long-time benefits. It is a failed project ab-initio except the government changes the current management tactics.”
