The growing traffic of passengers desiring domestic air services operations in Nigeria has exposed worrisome gaps to meet these obligations, says Captain Chris Najomo, Acting. Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA).
To close these gaps in order to handle the cheering growth in the domestic air services operations requires the presence of investors and key operators with the capacity and technical knowhow to further stabilise the growth expectations and satisfy the desires of consumers, the NCAA boss further clarified.
Captain Najomo who shared his concerns with the President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) Mr Yinka Folami and his Executive Council during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, on Thursday disclosed that the emerging trend of increase in domestic airfares could be attributed to the capacity gaps, adding that there is an urgent need to bridge these gaps, bring down the fares and encourage best global services operations by encouraging more investors and investments in the domestic airline market.
He commended NANTA for supporting the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation in the efforts to change the narratives of aviation business in Nigeria.
“We are happy to have NANTA with us, and honestly, it is not easy to provide leadership at this critical point in time, but we commend your association for staying strong and supportive to the changes in the sector even before the coming of this administration. Our minister has taken note of your concerns for the sector and has reached out to Boeing, Emberar, and Airbus to support investors in the domestic air business to close the gaps on capacity to meet with surging local passengers traffic and to also enable more Nigerian flag carriers on international routes, he stated.
On the enforcement of noticeable infractions in the sector, the NCAA boss reiterated the determination of the aviation regulatory body to do the needful where necessary, adding that offenders will be tracked and punished according to extant regulations and in partnership with sister regulatory agencies like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). And at the request of the Immediate Past President of NANTA Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, he consented to a Sector Monitoring Committee made up of representatives of NCAA, FCCPC, and NANTA.
Earlier in his address, NANTA President noted that NCAA has lived up to its operational responsibilities and has the approval, confidence, and support of NANTA.
“We upvote your capacity and technical experience to bring sanity to the sector. In strengthening our association, we look forward to an equitable and fair play ecosystem. We also want to work closer with you and other government regulatory bodies to help address the challenges in the sector and align it to global best practices. Indeed, we have confidence in NCAA under your watch, and together, we can put a halt to the many underhand practices such as cross-border trading and other obnoxious trade practices in the sector. We also want to drive the best of the Consumerism Ecosystem, which will help protect the Nigerian travelling public and also help service providers to remain in business, NANTA president explained.
On the NANTA President’s entourage are the Immediate Past President of NANTA, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, First National Deputy President, Mrs Chinyere Umeasiegbu, Financial Secretary, Mr Yinka ladipo, National Treasurer Alhaji Abdulrazak Ibrahim, National Internal Auditor, Johnson Ugochukwu, Vice President, Abuja, Mrs Uloma Ibiwari Kemabonta, Vice President, Eastern Zone, Mr Ehiogie Hope Osas, Vice President, North, Alhaji Nasir Mohammed Chamo, Vinod Kurauni, and the Chief Administrator of NANTA, Diagi Stanley.