Nigeria must benefit from BASA agreement

Nigerian Aviation Minister, Mrs Stella Oduah

Nigeria must benefit from BASA agreement
Toyin Odesomi, Abuja

“Nigeria will review the BASA Agreement in order for Nigerian International Airlines to benefit from it” says Aviation Minister.

BASA is an agreement signed between two nations allowing international commercial air transport services between their territories to enjoy equal leverage, in terms of flight operations.

Nigerian Aviation Minister, Mrs Stella Oduah, stated this when the President and Chairman of US Ex-Im Bank, Mr Fred Hochberg ,US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley and Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Amb Ade Adefuye, paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Abuja.

she said the review would enable Nigerian carriers to benefit from the BASA deals.

Her position came against the backdrop of the fact that the Nigerian Government only enjoys royalty from mainly Western countries which airlines dominate the country’s aviation scene at the expense of the local carriers, a benefit far lower than what Nigeria would have gained, if airlines in the country were reciprocating.

Roadmap and master plan

“The Aviation industry is important in transforming our economy and Nigeria must have a strategic relationship with Ex-Im with a view to assisting airlines in the country to acquire better and newer fleet of aircraft to ensure safety of the airspace and passengers. Nigeria must be the number one hub in Africa with first class and safe airports”

The Minister said Nigeria will collaborate with U.S. National carrier Pan Am, to assist the Aviation school in Zaria to build up the aviation technical staff capacity given that the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), the largest Aviation Institute in Africa presently trains 250 students which is not sufficient with a projection to increase it to 1500 students.

The minister in a statement signed by her Special Assistant Toyin Okpaise also announced that the Ministry will soon unveil a roadmap and master plan for the Aviation Industry with investment forums in Nigeria, UAE, China, US and Europe which will take the aviation industry into greater levels.

Private investors will be brought into the Industry to generate funds to build up the aviation sector.

Diplomatic row

Meanwhile a diplomatic row is imminent between the Nigerian government and the British government over the lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) entered into between Nigeria and the British Government which is at present crippling the only surviving Nigerian airline operating in London.

The row is owing to the refusal of the British authorities through its Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) to allow Arik Air, one of the airlines using Nigeria’s slot on the UK/London route from operating the London-Abuja frequency in line with the BASA agreement.

The British aviation authority’s failure to reciprocate the right which the two British carriers enjoy from Nigeria has made the Nigerian carrier’s operations into Britain a disadvantage much to the advantage of the British carriers.

Unwholesome practices

Reacting to the development, on Friday, the minister of aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah through her special adviser on media, Joseph Obi, declared that the government had concluded plans to redress the situation.

“The Minister has observed with utter dismay the inequitable treatment meted out to Arik Air in denying its fleet access into Heathrow Airport from Abuja. As a result, the airline has been compelled to discontinue its flight operations from Abuja to Heathrow which has impacted negatively on the passengers on this route”

The development came even as the Nigerian government has equally condemned what it called the unwholesome practices by the two British carriers in the area of different regime of fares they charge in Nigeria which have been found to be higher compared to what they charge in Ghana for the same flight.

Edited; Uche Iheanacho