Group Cautions Against ‘Unhealthy Competition’ In Aviation Sector

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), a sociocultural group comprising youths of all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, has called on operators in the Nigerian aviation sector to avoid what it called unhealthy competitions targeted at sabotaging competitors.

The group said the call became necessary following a publication that about 13 Nigerian airlines have been blacklisted by international aircraft lessors for various contract breaches, including Air Peace.

In a press release sent to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday by the National Coordinator of NDYC, Engr. Jator Abido, shortly after the news article was published, the group frowned at those behind what it called falsehood and maintained that Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s frontline carriers and other airlines, were not blacklisted as being bandied around.

According to the press release, “the aviation sector is crucial to our economy and particularly in the Niger Delta region where a lot of economic activities involving expatriates are domiciled. It was therefore necessary for us to immediately verify the authenticity of the claim especially as it touched on a very key player in the industry with a huge presence in our region.

“Sadly enough, no such thing has happened as our investigation has revealed that those behind this fabrication are those who are intimidated by the towering business success of Air Peace and other airlines who are breaking into international destinations and gaining momentum by the day.

“We frown at such barbaric tactics employed by other airlines operating in Nigeria including international carriers and beseech the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other regulators to act fast to forestall future occurrence as this is capable of causing panic amongst air travelers with adverse effects on the economy.”

The group noted that since Air Peace went global and took business control over the Lagos-London route and other promising international destinations, ending the cycle of exploitation of Nigerians, the airline has come under series of attacks especially by international carriers.

“This fresh media attack is not different from the price war launched by international airlines earlier in the year to put Air Peace out of business. The whole talk about contract breaches between lessors and the targeted Nigerian airlines is nothing but a decoy to create panic and reduce ticket sales.

“If not a mischievous plot orchestrated to harm the reputation of burgeoning airlines, how could one explain the fact that lessors to over 13 airlines sat and decided to blacklist them at the same time? Even if this was to happen, did all the airlines breach their contract agreements at the same time? Can two contracts even be the same? This and many more questions beg for answers,” it maintained.