Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, has set up a committee mandated to review the country’s aviation industry aeronautical charges with a view to determining the factors responsible for the disparity in fares international airlines charge travelers from Nigeria and those of other countries with similar regional conditions. The committee is to also determine why some of the neighbouring West Africa countries are customers of choice to international airlines and aviation companies. The committee is made of the following members:

1. Ahonsi Unuigbe – Chairman/Lead

2. Dr. Young – Member ‎

3. FAAN Representatives – Member

4. ‎NAMA Representative – Member

5. NCAA Representative – Member

6. AON representative – Member

7. Other Airport Users Representative – Member

8. Benjamin Okewu (Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum) – Member

9. Director Planning Research and Statistics (FMA) – Secretary‎

An aviation ministry statement issued yesterday in Abuja gave the committee’s terms of refrence as follows:

1. Collate Nigerian aviation industry aeronautical charges.

2. Benchmark with global best practice, especially with those countries with similar regional conditions.

3. Determine the factors responsible for the disparity between the aeronautical charges (if any). 4. Give an opinion or make necessary recommendation on analysis made. This must be with a veiw to placing the industry in competitive advantage and reversing the current trend.

The statement said that Chidoka has also set up a committee to determine the Nigerian aviation industry aircraft accident reports status. It named the committee members as follows:

1. Capt. Victor Iriobe – Chairman/Lead

2. Grp Capt Ojikutu (Rtd) – Member/Vice-Chairman

3. Capt Theo Onu – Member‎

4. NCAA representative – Member

5. AIB representative – Member

6. NAMA representative – Member

7. Director of Air Safety and Technical Policy – Secretary

Terms of refrence:

1. Collate all Nigerian Aviation aircraft accident reports from 2000 till date.

2. Determine the status of all reports and recommendations.

3. Do compliance gap analysis of the approved reports recommendation.

4. Determine alignment with global aviation industry best practice.

5. Give an opinion and, or make necessary recommendations on analysis made.

The committees, according to the statement, have been given four weeks to complete their assignment.

•Photo shows Aviation Minsiter Osita Chidoka with some members of the discriminatory fare probe committee.