Intrigue and power play are delaying the operation of regional flights at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, (MMA2) in Lagos, analysts say.
The analysts add that the delay has further discouraged the establishment of critical maintenance infrastructure such as hangars, and the creation of more jobs for pilots, cabin crew, engineers and technicians, among others.
Furthermore, it has not allowed the creation of new slots for domestic and foreign airlines to expand operations in the country, coming at a period when the capacity at the Murtala Muhammed Internaional Airport , otherwise known as MMA1 is near full.
Bicourtney Aviation Service Limited (BASL) had made its intention known to the public to start regional operations in December last year, but is yet to receive the necessary approval from the regulatory authority, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The company claimed it had signed a valid agreement with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to this effect and complied with all the conditions set by the NCAA, just as it had invested in the development of the terminal.
On the other hand, FAAN had written a letter to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to oppose the commencement of regional operations at MMA2, claiming that the size of the apron was inadequate for parking aircraft, informed sources tell BusinessDay.
FAAN also opposed regional operations at MMA2 claiming that it does not have the personnel to deploy in the terminal for the regional flights.
Christophe Penninck, Chief Executive Officer of BASL told BusinessDay that the company has invested much in infrastructure and other developments at MMA2 but are unable to continue with further development.
“If we have the opportunity to operate international flights, it will not only benefit us, but also the airlines operating here,” Penninck said.
Penninck explained that BASL had no intention to compete with Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA), but only wanted to help the domestic airlines already operating from its terminal to grow their international routes and make their operations more efficient and profitable.
“I know for a fact that Aero, Dana and Med-View airlines operate international flights to Accra. It will make operational sense to combine that arrangement with their respective domestic operations,” said Penninck.
Giving further clarification, BASL said it is only seeking authorisation to carry out regional operations at MMA2, especially for airlines flying to and from neighbouring African countries.
A source at BASL claimed the company had spent over N200 million on its preparations for the commencement of the regional operations.
The NCAA audited MMA2 in preparation for commencement of regional flights at the airport.
The audit covered areas such as safety, security and operations.
BusinessDay also learned that all the statutory agencies, such as the Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Port Health Service and other relevant agencies have already deployed their personnel at the terminal in readiness for the commencement of the regional operations.
Spokesman for BASL, Remi Ladigbolu said BASL had written several letters to the NCAA requesting clarification on the status of its application to commence regional operations at MMA2, but is yet to receive any clear cut response from the agency.
But the NCAA, it was learnt, is studying the situation with respect to certain objections raised by FAAN on the viability of the operation.
However, aviation experts say that FAAN should not have signed an agreement with BASL for the operation of regional flights in MMA2, if it had such reservations about the viability of the terminal for the operation.
Since the concession of the terminal in 2006, there has been an issue over the tenure of the agreement, leading to litigation in court.
Experts believe the controversies over the concession which have also gotten in the way of the regional operations, underscore the need for government and the parties involved to keep faith with the agreement.
Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, said it was untrue that the agency was not ready to grant approval to Bicourtney to start regional operations.
Adurogboye said, “Normally, when a request comes up like that, a team would be sent to audit the place and come up with the report that would be examined by top management. I need to know whether that has taken place.
“I knew that NCAA wanted to find out whether there is an objection from the other parties, which is FAAN and I want to find if there are no objections. NCAA cannot on its own say it would not allow them to carry out the operation if all the requirements have been resolved.”
Speaking on the controversy, Comrade Saidu Rasaq, General Secretary, Nigeria Aviation Professionals’ Association (NAPA) said the whole concession process was faulty from the onset.
Rasaq said future concessions should be properly spelt out by the tripartite bodies-the Federal Government, service providers and the private sector, so that no one would be short-changed
Opportunities for regional flight operators stem from business and leisure travel, as well as the demise of some regional airlines such as the Nigeria Airways, which used to service the region.
One glaring statistic is that there are an estimated 70,000 Nigerian students studying in tertiary institutions in Ghana alone.
Many of these come from middle and upper class families who can afford air travel.
Nigeria currently exports tobacco products, plastics and rubber footwear, noodles and biscuits, polybags, milk products, iron and steel, insecticides, beverages, tomato paste and fruit juices to the top 10 African countries, including Ghana, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, according to Olusegun Awolowo CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
Some of these products are transported by air.
Tukur Mohammed, former Presidential Adviser on Aviation and former MD of Chachangi Airlines, said the current minister of Aviation should assist private investors to generate more revenue for the Nigerian government, adding that the commencement of regional flights from MMA2 is one way of doing that.
Mohammed added, “We need to sit down and look at the issue clearly. By the time the current government looks at all these problems, the implication is that the passengers will have value for their money and revenue will be generated.”
Nigeria has about ten domestic airlines which provide 6,538 seats to the travelling public daily. The airlines include Arik Air, Medview, Aero, First Nation, Discovery Air, Air Peace, Azman Air and Overland.
IFEOMA OKEKE
