The Federal Government has restated its willingness to cancel the multiple designations granted to some foreign airlines operating into the country, but said the indigenous airlines must first show the capacity to deliver.

The government also said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would in the next two weeks roll out the plans to clear the trapped funds of foreign airlines in the country.

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Airspace Development, stated these in Abuja over the weekend in an interview with aviation journalists.

According to Keyamo, the government would address the challenges facing the indigenous airlines and support their operations, but said the carriers must show the capacity to deliver efficient flight services to the travelling public.

Keyamo reiterated that any Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangements that give foreign airlines multiple entries into the country’s airports would be looked into critically, but noted the protection of the travelling public was paramount to the government.

He said: “That is local hopping. I have said it, but before I touch those BASAs, don’t forget that a part of that benefits the Nigerian people and the local airlines. I should be here for all. If I go this way, the airlines will complain and if I go the other way, people will complain.

“Some people will love to fly to Port Harcourt directly from Dubai and when they are bringing you, you will like to drop at your doorstep. We have to find a balance.

“But I have told them I don’t like such a BASA. I will cancel it, but the airlines must show me their capacity. Also, whether if Qatar has sold 30 business class tickets, can our local airlines lift 30 business class passengers from Kano and drop them off in Abuja and on time? And if you now say ‘sorry, you can only fly economy from Kano to join Qatar Airways in Abuja,’ you are spoiling their business.

“Secondly, they wait for you for four hours, you are not bringing their passengers; you are spoiling their business. Show me your capacity. Nigerian people must benefit, local airlines must benefit. You have to support me. Don’t forget that the Nigerian people must be the ultimate beneficiary.”

As at October 2021, Nigeria’s BASA arrangements with other countries had climbed to about 90.

Reports claimed that only about 30 of the arrangements are active, while a very few Nigerian carriers like Air Peace are currently taking part in the frequencies.

Despite the absence of reciprocity by Nigeria and its carriers, pressures are still mounted on the Federal Government especially by state governors, legislators and some professionals in the sector to approve more foreign airlines to fly directly into various states and airports in the country, irrespective of its effect on the nation’s carriers and employment opportunities for qualified personnel.

On the trapped funds, Keyamo informed that the CBN would in the next two weeks roll out clear roadmap to address the backlog of ticket sales belonging to foreign airlines, but trapped in the country for more than 18 months.

He reiterated that the Federal Government would ensure that all the trapped funds were cleared very soon, stressing that the government had already discussed the modalities with the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He clarified that the funds were trapped in the country due to the lack of enough financial resources at the disposal of the government.

But he said with the removal of subsidy on petroleum, funds would be conserved and channeled towards other important projects that would aid development.

He said: “Don’t forget that the fund was liquidity. Everything we were earning was going into servicing debts and subsidy. But right now, we can conserve a bit of that with the removal of fuel subsidy. That is exactly one of the benefits of the removal of subsidy.” (Daily Independent)

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