Nigeria May See Spate of Plane Crashes, Senator Adeyemi Warns

Nigeria’s Aviation Industry is in critical condition and might soon begin to record plane crashes from next week if quick actions such as increased bailouts are not implemented, according to Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senate Committee chairman on Aviation.

The industry is also in need of immediate implementation of Executive Orders mandating the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to waive taxes on imported spare parts and commercial airlines.

Adeyemi, while addressing journalists in Abuja on the outcome of the committee’s public hearing, said that maintenance of commercial airlines plying the country’s airspace has been hampered by “the inability of airline operators to have access to single digit lending as obtainable in other parts of the world.”

He said, “The absence of foreign exchange as and at when due to enable operators pay value added taxes for their aircrafts is another obstacle to the smooth operations of the industry.”

The lawmaker noted that the N4bn recently announced as bailout funds for the industry, by the federal government, is not enough to address the challenges of the industry.

The lawmaker revealed that the industry needs about N50bn to avoid disasters, as “airline operators have resorted to cutting corners in carrying out maintenance requirements for their aircrafts.”

Comparing $74 million, and $150 million earmarked by Senegal and Rwanda as bailouts for the countries’ airlines, Sen. Adeyemi lamented poor funding for Nigeria’s Aviation sector.

He called on government to ensure a VAT free and tax free process for all spare parts and commercial aircrafts being imported into the country to ensure safety for the industry.