8th November, 2010
With many Nigerian airlines finding it difficult to survive, air travellers have called on the Federal Government to come to their rescue.
The travellers, who spoke with our correspondent at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, said Nigerian airlines are grappling with problems of gargantuan proportions.
Among the problems they cited are high cost of aviation fuel, decayed infrastructure and lack of adequate patronage from the Nigerian public.
At least, three Nigerian airlines have collapsed between last year and this year. They include Afrijet, Capital and Bellview airlines
Chanchangi could not fly for months due to operational challenges.
Other airlines such as Arik Air, Air Nigeria, Danna Air and Aero Contractors, as well as IRS Airline are heavily indebted.
“The government should make some amount of money available for the airlines so they can have a good base. If the airlines can’t stand well on their own, they should merge,†one of the passenger who identified himself as Mr. Olamide responded on the way forward for the airlines.
Another passenger, Akin Owolola, called on government agencies at the airport like the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to improve on their services to passengers and airlines.
He appealed to the government to provide the needed fund to refurbish or rebuild the airports where necessary and instal navigation equipment.
—Busayomi Amoran