The Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI), also known as ART, has called upon President Bola Tinubu to take action in addressing the challenges hindering the development of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
At the first ART quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting held in Lagos, the President of ART, Air Comm Demola Onitiju (retd), emphasized the urgent need for policies aimed at ensuring the survival and growth of airlines while mitigating the recent surge in domestic airfares.
One of the key issues highlighted by Onitiju is the burden of taxes, tariffs, and other charges imposed on the aviation sector, which have significantly impeded its progress. He urged President Tinubu to initiate policies aimed at reviewing and suspending these fees within a specified timeframe to alleviate the financial strain on aviation and allied businesses in the country.
Additionally, Onitiju emphasized the importance of enhancing the autonomy of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to insulate them from short-term political pressures. He stressed the need for the NCAA to enforce standards and regulations consistently to maintain public trust and safety.
In response to the escalating airfares, Onitiju proposed that the Consumer Rights Protection directorate within the NCAA should play a more proactive role in ensuring maximum comfort and compensation for travelers in cases of infractions by airlines.
