The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Fatai Buhari announced that the Senate is drafting a bill to regulate airline activities in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation aims to limit the number of routes for airlines operating with three or fewer aircraft.
Despite pushback from some operators, Buhari emphasized the bill’s potential benefits for the flying public according The Punch.
This was disclosed by Buhari on Wednesday in Lagos during the South-West Regional Air Transportation Summit, 2024, with the theme, ‘Repositioning the Nigeria aviation industry for financial capability and economic viability’, hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
He noted that passengers often face significant challenges because Nigerian airlines have largely refrained from codesharing.
He said, “I have said we all cannot afford to fail, Nigerians code-sharing is the way to go for airlines even in the developed nations they do it. We have a bill that is currently at the National Assembly that will ensure that the minimum number of aircraft an airline could have is four or five and any airline that has a lesser number of aircraft should be given specialised routes.
“Yes, I know many of you do not want that to happen but in the interest of Nigerians and the flying passengers I pray that the bill will scale through.”
Meanwhile, industry stakeholders have urged for a comprehensive overhaul of aviation policies to foster growth and development in the sector.
The Executive Director of the Alternative Bank, Dr Jekwu Ozoemene, said inconsistent policy formulations and executions were militating the growth of the sector.
Ozoemene advocated for the creation of an aviation development fund specifically aimed at financing infrastructure development, safety improvements, and human capacity building in the sector.
He urged participants to promote public-private partnerships to stimulate private sector investment in airport infrastructure, air navigation services, and aircraft maintenance.
He said, “The only way the aviation industry can work in Nigeria is to ensure that every value chain is working hand-in-hand. Nigeria can’t reach its full potential if we fail to address the challenges in the aviation sector.”
Also, a former United States Transportation Security Administration Representative and Attaché to West Africa, Oluseyi Ogunleye, noted that the NCAA had a pivotal role to play in harnessing the vast opportunities presented by the global aviation transportation system to drive national economic growth and development.
Ogunleye emphasized that an inclusive regulatory dialogue is essential for the Nigerian aviation industry to collaboratively address major challenges and unlock its full potential.
He stressed the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to drive progress and enhance the sector’s development.
“The time is now for the Nigerian government, industry stakeholders, and the general public to come together and chart a bold, transformative course for the aviation sector.
“With a shared commitment to progress and a steadfast focus on national economic growth, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority can drive impactful change and unlock a prosperous future for all Nigerians. The call to action is clear: let us embrace the opportunities, overcome the challenges, and soar to new heights of aviation excellence,” Ogunleye added.
