FAAN may ground debtor-airlines today
Nigeria loses N150b to foreign seafarers
A 24-PAGE document by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed that foreign airlines operating in Nigeria have repatriated over N200 billion to their countries of origin in Europe, Africa and the United States (U.S.)
British Airways topped the list of successful airlines operating into Nigeria with ticket sales put at N31,538,141,518 followed closely by Emirates, grossing N21,522,232,269.60 on tickets sold from January 2009 to December 2009.
Other big earners on the lucrative Nigerian routes are Virgin Atlantic (N11,832,010,763.40), Air France (N10,859, 450,927.40), KLM, (N10,507,299,275), Delta Air (N7,001,304,508), Qatar Airways (N6,799,302,758), South African Airways (N5,775,448,204), Egypt Air (N4,831,799,154.60), Kenya Airways (N2,807,340,905) Arik (N4,343,492,015) and Turkish Airlines (N1,825,406,905.40).
Others in the league of big earners are Alitalia (N931,339,519); Iberia (N769,187,923), Saudi Arabian Airlines, which only flies into to Kano from Jeddah, grossed N846,133,401; China Southern Airlines with (N769,187,932), Aero Contractors (N241,438,780), Afriqiyah (N302,496,743), Royal Air Maroc, which began operations a little over a year ago, made N266,627,990.
Meanwhile, except there is last-minute reversal, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will today ground all airlines indebted to it.
There were concerns yesterday that the action could disrupt scheduled flights and ground passengers’ travelling for the Yuletide.
However, the carriers are said to have inundated FAAN’s office with calls and visits in a bid to avert the problem.
If FAAN goes ahead with its threat today, it would be the second time in four months that the agency would resort to the measure in order to get airlines to pay up their debt to it, which is put at over N2 billion.
FAAN said it planned to ground the airlines’ services in Abuja, a prime destination for domestic airlines.
And, for not devoting funds to the training of maritime professionals and not properly manning its sea borders, Nigeria is losing N150 billion to expatriates that are daily being registered to operate in its waters, Commandant General, Nigerian Merchant Navy Academy, Commodore Adeniran Olatinwo, has said.
Olatinwo, who spoke at a media conference on the activities of the Merchant Navy and its proposed National Sailors’ Award Night, raised concern that Nigerian sea borders were the most porous in the world, adding that this posed serious danger to the nation’s economy.
He noted that the roles of the Merchant Navy go beyond ferrying private and commercial boats and vessels, stressing that maritime nations of the world recognised the vital role the Merchant Navy played in the maritime industry in peace and war.
Olatinwo said: “Anybody can penetrate our waters and arms are entering our ports with ease. Toxic waste and drugs are also entering with ease. We are being threatened as a nation. The porosity is all over in Lekki, Badagry and Bakassi Peninsula.”
He advised government to do something urgently to arrest the dangerous situation, adding that “Nigeria economically is still the giant, but our attitude must change. We can’t pass the buck to our security personnel alone, we too must assist.”
The NCAA report entitled: “International Airline Operations in Nigeria,” which was dated December 13, 2010, has been presented to the Minister of Aviation. It also showed that collectively, all the airlines paid the mandatory Ticket Sales Commission (TSC) five per cent tax to the aviation agencies.
While the foreign airlines’ earnings have stunned many and confirmed that Nigeria is prime place in African aviation industry, some stakeholders have raised capital flight concern in the nation’s aviation sector.
There are also allegations that the foreign airlines are quick to take their earnings out of Nigeria without any urge to assist Nigeria to develop its aviation infrastructure.
Olatinwo said if places like Igbokoda, Lekki, Epe, Badagry, the Bakassi Peninsular and other areas were not properly protected, “our safety and economy are threatened by the porosity of the sea line.”
He observed: “The demise of the Nigerian Shipping Line ended all good training standards. The new training scheme cannot meet international standard. Besides, how many people are being churned out?
“Presently, there are over 5,000 registered merchant vessels operating on Nigerian seas. Yet, less than five per cent of the seafarers are Nigerians. The country is said to be losing over N150 billion annually while majority of Nigerians who could have otherwise been gainfully employed in the maritime sector, are roaming the streets.
“Again, Nigerian coastal area is the most porous in the world. Anybody can sail in unhindered, even where we have armed personnel, hence we have cases of dumping of toxic wastes and proliferation of arms through the sea borders with ease.”
Olantiwo said the Merchant Navy was currently asking the National Assembly to enact a law to regulate and recognise its activities.
He added: “We have also undertaken a comprehensive research of the territorial coastal areas and submitted a bill to the National Assembly for the establishment of a Coastal Guard as an integral part of the Nigeria Merchant Navy as it is the practice in other Maritime countries of the world.
“The essence of the Coastal Guard bill is first, to protect 10 coast guard stations namely: Lagos, Igbokoda, Escravos, Qua-Iboe, Bakasi and others. The radar and patrol boats that will be included will increase surveillance at all these regions to prevent any eventuality and protect Nigeria from danger from the seas.”
Olantiwo also charged Nigeria to enforce the International Maritime Organisation’s convention, to which it is a signatory, for safety of lives at sea, prevention of collision and maritime pollution, among others.
Source:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment