‘Inclement environment reduces lifespan of local carriers’

by OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The uncomfortable working environment has been adduced the reasons why indigenous airlines in Nigeria don’t last long unlike some of their counterparts elsewhere. In a bid to ensure the carriers live their lifespan, the Federal Government has been advised to work towards the stability of naira, provide aviation fuel to operators at affordable price and improve on the security network in the country.

The Managing Director, Med- View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole stated this yesterday during an interview with our correspondent in his office in Lagos. According to Bankole, the fortune of naira has been dwindling in the past few years, a situation, which he said enormously affects the operators, who in most times do their transaction in dollars and other major foreign currencies. He explained further that 40 per cent of the earnings are spent on aviation fuel, but decried that despite their complaints over the years, the government has not been able to improve the situation.
He said, “Personally, I want to say it here that, we have no stable component for naira when compared to dollars and other major currencies of the world. In other countries that I know, the rate of exchange remains stable, contrary to what we have here. It’s a very sad situation, but unfortunately, we can’t complain. “Aviation fuel too is on the high side and it takes away 40 per cent of your total cost.
We keep shouting and talking, but nobody is ready to listen to us, nobody has addressed the issue. This is a country blessed with abundant resources. “Thirdly, the security of the environment does not help the business to grow. There are some places you can’t fly into in Nigeria today, which is not supposed to be so within the same country.
This reduces our operational challenges. Aircraft will sit down on the ground rather than be in the air; they are meant to fly and not be on the ground.” On the infrastructure at the airports all over the country, Bankole insisted that these have improved over the years and lauded the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah for initiating the remodelling exercise, which he said had uplifted the Nigerian airport environment.
He noted that the expansion of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos terminal has eliminated the bottlenecks hitherto experienced by air passengers, adding that as the gateway to any country, the airport environments should be comfortable to users.
When asked about the commencement of regional and international operations by Med-View, he said that the routes would commence very soon, maintaining that Accra, Ghana would be the first to come on stream while Jeddah and Dubai would follow in quick succession.
On the planned acquisition of 30 aircraft for local operators by the Ministry of Aviation, he said that the operators were contacted by the government and hoped that it would be implemented soon.
“I cannot speak for the ministry on this arrangement, but I can speak to you as an airline operator. I’m very much aware that there was a window by the government to assist the airlines in the area of leasing and that process is still on. I believe that the whole idea is to reduce cost and bring in the right equipment, newer aircraft and enhancement of safety issues.”