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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Aviation groups reject Virgin Nigeria as national carrier
BARELY two weeks to the proposed take-off of a new national carrier, Virgin Nigeria, a coalition of aviation experts have risen against the choice of Virgin Atlantic Airways as the technical partner and strategic investor in the project. At the weekend in Lagos, the group urged the government to review the choice in the overall interest of the nation.
The coalition said at the end of an emergency meeting that the process heralding the choice of Virgin lacked fair play, due process and transparency.
The coalition is made up of representatives of the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN); National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE); Aviation Round Table (ART); Socio-Economic Rights Initiative (SERI) and the Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI).
The groups rejected the choice, Virgin, saying it portends danger to the development of the nation's aviation industry and compromising national interest and integrity. They noted that even when Virgin Nigeria was yet to be incorporated, it had applied for Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) before the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
"We strongly condemn the claims from the NCAA, reminiscent of the ignoble role played by the same authority during the Air Nigeria saga when it claimed a 'Display AOC' had been issued to the still-birth airline," said the group.
They criticised the Federal Ministry of Aviation for exhibiting double standards in favour of Virgin and called on it to hands off the privatisation process of the Nigeria Airways in the interest of the nation and in accordance with the law.
"To ensure a greater participation by indigenous carriers and stem the tide of capital flight and in the true spirit of competition and fair play, the coalition supports putting up for bid the entire Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) routes, which had hitherto been developed and held in trust by the Nigeria Airways. This, we note, has the capacity to aid in the rapid acceleration of the development of the industry," the experts noted.
They said such bidding should be under the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and that only indigenous domestic airlines that have been in business for more than three years should be allowed to take part in the bidding process.
The coalition also expressed concern over the trend in the industry where chief executives of parastatals are unceremoniously relieved of their position without recourse to due process. Most of them are replaced by friends and former colleagues of the Aviation Minister in the finance and insurance industries who have no antecedents in air transport or safety management.
"That in the interest of the integrity and safety of the air transport industry, we call not only for a halt to this practice but a reversal of such appointments already made," the coalition argued.
They said the practice of relieving chief executives and other workers of their jobs without just explanation is reminiscent of the military era.
The coalition wondered if the minister could not find aviation professionals to work with, "given the array of experienced and qualified serving/retired aviation personnel who abound in the country."
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