Chairman, Air Peace Airlines, Dr. Allen Onyema, has described the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), as a ruse because it is lopsided against Nigeria and its operators.
This is as the federal government said it has reviewed all the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) that Nigeria has entered into with other countries of the world to ensure that the country benefits from the principle of reciprocity which is the hallmark of all BASAs.
The SAATM is a project of the African Union to create a single market for air transport in Africa. Once completely in force, the single market is supposed to allow significant freedom of air transport in Africa, advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063.
But, speaking at the 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM), of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), titled, “Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential: Travel and Tourism As Catalyst For Intra-Africa Business, Investment and Trade,” the Air Peace Chairman, said SAATM is skewed against Nigerian airlines, especially in francophone African countries.
According to Onyema, while other African countries’ airlines operate in Nigeria unfettered, the airlines’ home countries create stumbling blocks for Nigerian airlines in their respective countries.
Onyema specifically mentioned francophone African countries for being hostile to Nigerian airlines operating to their countries despite opportunities accorded them by Nigerians.
“If SAATM is working, African airlines will benefit from it. Nigerian airlines are not against SAATM but we are against the lopsided administration of SAATM.
As much as we support SAATM there must be a level playing ground. It is unacceptable to skew SAATM against Nigerian airlines.”
“The implementation of SAATM is lopsided because while other airlines in Africa come to Nigeria unfettered but when we go there, they block us. Is that SAATM?”
“For instance, an airline come to Nigeria five times in a week and they told Air Peace Nigeria airlines can’t come until we threatened to go to court to stop them from operating in Nigeria before they could allow us come and they waited for us in their country as they gave us discriminatory charges of $12,000 landing charges
“We want SAATM, but we thought it was created for other African countries to only maximise the opportunities by gaining from Nigeria and stop Nigerians from gaining from their own country.”
“Francophone countries use the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), to frustrate us, they sent us overflight charges running into million of Euros and we ask how do we incur these bills, no one was ready to explain to us. In some cases, Air Peace makes payment and they tell us we paid into an account that the person has been sacked. After two years, they told us to pay 4 million Euro because they go to France to get judgement in a French court and we have to pay,” he recounted.
Speaking earlier, the minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, said the federal government reviewed the BASA agreement in order to ensure that local domestic carriers designated to fly international routes operate effortlessly without encumbrances.
According to Keyamo who was represented by the director, Air Transport Management, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hassan Ejibunu, said the review was to make Nigerians benefit maximally.
“The outcome of this strategic move would not only improve connectivity, but also position Nigeria as a regional hub for air transportation. This also would undoubtedly have an impact on NANTA’s members’ business growth.”
The minister also mentioned that the foray of Air Peace on the London route has changed the game for the benefits of Nigeria.
He, however, assured airline owners that the Ministry under his leadership would continue to ensure that Nigeria’s airlines break new grounds to make air travel safe and convenient for Nigerians.
“I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the successful commencement of direct flight to London by one of Nigeria’s domestic carriers, Messrs. Air Peace Airline. The success of the flight operations, coming after seven years, signifies the determination of the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to continue to promote the interests of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs to ensure they blossom in their businesses.
“The foray of Air Peace on the London route has changed the game for the benefits of Nigeria. The Ministry under my leadership would continue to ensure that Nigeria’s airlines break new grounds to make air travel safe and convenient for our citizens. We control the market in Africa and we are the most travelled in the African Continent, therefore, we deserved the best. I, therefore, commend the commitment and sagacity of Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO of Air Peace and his management team for that enviable feat and accomplishment,” he stated.
On her part, the president of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye, said the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), was instrumental to Nigeria winning the war against foreign airlines over astronomical airfare in the last one year.
According to her, the foreign airlines discriminated against Nigerians through the airfare, even as she applauded Air Peace for embarking on the Lagos-London route.
“Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was and still is very supportive, and for the first time, let me free myself and a trusted few from the oath of secrecy and testify to the very detailed investigative intervention by Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) which brought about a lot of hope and direction.
“Babatunde Irukera may not head that critical agency of Government today, but without his brilliant support and collaboration, the war of fare discrimination and apartheid against Nigerian travellers would still be raging. Mr. Babatunde Irukera must not be forgotten by NANTA and deserves our gratitude and deep appreciation always.”
“I will add that one of the best values for us in NANTA today is the very present and effective collaboration to which we deliberately pursued with all the relevant agencies of Government in the travel and tourism space.
“NANTA is the Iroko tree of the Nigeria Travel and Tourism sector, and we must continue to manage our strength, our victories, and not be afraid about new exploits and challenges. Leadership is not about elections but about the people. The resounding feverish tempo out there and all over the world today is about change. Two years ago in Abuja, Mr. Babatunde Irukera told us to innovate or perish. Innovation and change in lifestyle and operational ecosystems can sometimes be scary and unattractive, but where there is a will, there is a way. My team has a very deep, robust willpower, and we delivered on all our counts.
“It is fitting and noteworthy that a Nigerian flag carrier in Air Peace came to water our departure runway. We are proud of this Nigerian airline and will do everything in our power, individually and collectively, to ensure Air Peace remains our own!
“This is a strategic partnership that I am proud to hand over to the incoming executive council. The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who graciously will be with us throughout this AGM, deserves our support and collaboration. He has promised to back NANTA.”
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