Lagos: An Aviation Security Consultant, retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, has urged the Federal Government to designate two flag carriers from among Air Peace, Arik, Aero, or Ibom Air. Ojikutu made this recommendation during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as Nigeria marked its 65th independence anniversary. He suggested that one private carrier could focus on regional and continental operations, while the other could manage intercontinental routes.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ojikutu emphasized that the airlines should collectively hold no more than 50 per cent of the shares separately from each of the designated airlines. He proposed that the remaining shares be allocated with 15 per cent to Federal or State governments and the remaining 35 per cent to the public through the Nigeria Exchange Ltd. Ojikutu also suggested that foreign airlines be restricted to either Lagos or Abuja and allowed to select a secondary airport from an alternative geographical location. Additionally, he recommended that foreign airlines interline with domestic airlines for transiting passengers and compensate domestic airlines in dollars.
He highlighted that 25 years after the dissolution of Nigeria’s national carrier, passenger traffic remains below 20 million, a figure that is less than 10 per cent of the country’s population. He noted that the growth of the aviation sector has not matched that of its contemporaries like Ethiopian Airlines, citing flawed understanding and development within the sector as contributing factors.
Mr Abdulrasaq Saidu, General Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), added that Nigeria urgently requires a national carrier. Saidu mentioned that the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian Airways was a misstep, urging President Bola Tinubu to rectify the situation. He warned that favoring private airline operators over a national carrier might hinder the sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Aviation analyst Mr Olumide Ohunayo praised the government’s efforts to improve aviation agencies and their regulatory frameworks. He also acknowledged the states that have transitioned from focusing solely on airports to investing in airlines. Ohunayo cited Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Cross River as examples of states benefiting from such investments and mentioned that Ogun and Oyo states are making strides in enhancing their aviation infrastructure to attract more flights.