•Expands operations with Nigeria-Ghana service

By Chinelo Obogo

Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has urged the federal government to make single digit interest loans and a special forex window available to domestic airlines to ease their operational burdens.

He said this on Monday in Abuja during the airline’s inaugural flight to Accra, Ghana, emphasising that without a vibrant aviation industry, Nigeria will not attain its ambitious N1 trillion economy aspiration by next year.

“Aviation is a catalyst for economic development. When you don’t have Nigerian airlines flying in and out of Nigeria, it means we are carting away a lot of Nigerian resources. Because the benefits of it go to other airlines.

“We are appealing to the Nigerian government to continue to support the aviation industry. A one trillion dollar economy can never be achieved without aviation.

“Transportation in every part of the world is an enabler. Without it every other thing you are doing is in vain. We are prepared, we are ready. But we can’t fly higher if we are over burdened with certain taxes and so many levies more than anywhere in the world. As we are seated here you may have known that the only airline that flies from here to Ghana on a direct flight just announcing that United Nigeria is starting today has cut their price 50 per cent.

“If all our other competitors are assessing special funds in their different countries, zero interest rate, government support and it is easier for them to do it. But today we source our money from the commercial bank market. I continue to say, we can be stronger. We can do better. If there will be a window, a special window of access to funds.

“We don’t want grants. We don’t want free money. We are only just asking for single interest digits as a loan for the aviation industry,” he said.

Okonkwo also shared that UNA has faced numerous challenges, especially at its inception when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. He emphasised that it is only by God’s grace and blessing that the organisation has survived and thrived to this day.

“That COVID that was killing people would have killed United Nigeria. But because God was with us and continued to be with us, we survived COVID. You are all aware of the foreign exchange problems in Nigeria. We have survived that with all their lives and other policy somersaults. I can tell you today having weathered the storm we are now on the cruising path.

“With United Nigeria now starting off the additional flights to Ghana we intend to open up new routes. But as we fly there, as we fly Air Peace, as we fly the Nigerian carrier, I want to show you that one of the safest aviation industries in the world is Nigeria. Our regulation is tough. A typical example is that we have pilots, we have a cockpit crew. They must do certain things they call proficiency certification.

“That proficiency certification in other parts of the world they do it in 12 months, once a year. But in Nigeria our pilots are certified every six months. And this certification because we do not have the training facility here in Nigeria they are all done overseas.

“Apart from the fact that it is taking a huge cost on us, it is also a testament that even what they do here is certified by people outside Nigeria. Because it is the same training they attend to get a certification that other people who fly for other airlines around the world attend. Air Peace, United Nigeria and a couple of other Nigerian airlines have what is called IOSA certification,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr Ibrahim Kana, said that the priority of the federal government is to ensure that Nigerian airlines develop capacity so that they will compete effectively with their international counterparts.

He added that the government is poised to give Nigerian carriers all the support they need to grow.

“Festus Keyamo has always insisted that it is our responsibility as a ministry to support local airlines. If we don’t, nobody else will do that. It is in that light that our ministry focuses on the issue of safety. Safety, safety, safety. Secondly, it is focusing on supporting local airlines to ensure that they have access to, one, insurance, two, finance, and thirdly, we, the government of Nigeria, has approved import duty-free for all aircraft and spare parts into the country. This, no doubt, will support the airlines, no doubt will support the airlines and will give them some kind of leeway and freedom, I mean, air to breathe in this business,” he said.

Kana described it as a source of pride for the federal government that United Nigeria Airlines is now flying to Ghana, noting that this new connection would further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

At the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdul Fattah Buhari, urged Nigerian airlines to work together and in unity, noting that when they cooperate, they push their issues together to the government and the government will acquiesce to their request. He added that when the government enables them to acquire more aircraft, the protracted delays and flight cancellations will be eliminated.

In his remarks, Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema expressed his delight over United Nigeria Airlines’ launch of regional flights.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration, urging members, through the Airline Operators of Nigeria, to strengthen cooperation so that competition goes hand in hand with teamwork.

He added that Nigerians’ ultimate goal should be unity, as a united nation is a stronger nation.

‎‎”We know that the industry is very competitive but we can also compete and support each other and I want every Nigerian airline to emulate that bond between United Nigerian Airlines and Air Peace. Not because the owners come from the same region, no. I remember when I went to the office of the Vice President and they wanted to pay me for hajj, I told them if the money is not enough to pay Max Air and Azman, I will not accept payment. Both are Kano based airlines and that was why I walked out of the presidency without being paid because it was not enough to go around. I waited till my brothers’ airlines were paid. So, it is not about where people come from but we do these for the love of Nigeria,” he said.

Also ‎speaking, the Ambassador of Ghana to Nigeria, Baba Ahmed, said he was happy that United Nigeria Airlines has started operations to Ghana and noted that Nigeria and Ghana are not just neighbours but brothers.

‎Credit: thesun.ng