Indications have emerged that unless the Federal Government takes decisive steps to curb insecurity and address the crisis in the aviation sector, economic activities across the country may experience worse downturn in the nearest future.
This follows findings by The Guardian that Nigerians were already avoiding travelling by road and rail as a result of the activities of terrorists and kidnappers while the air option left to them has suddenly gone out of their reach due to the high cost aviation fuel, which has forced domestic airlines to hike their fares.
Recall that the oldest operating carriers in the country, Aero Contractors, recently suspended operations over its depleted fleet capacity to operate reliable scheduled operation. The airline had about eight out of its nine airplanes on the waiting list for routine maintenance, but lacked foreign exchange to purchase spares and meet obligations.
Less than 24 hours after Aero closed shop, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Dana Air operations with immediate effect, citing inability to run safe operations and meet financial obligations.
With 10 local airlines suddenly down to eight, the effects have started to tell on local travels. The Chief Operating Officer of one of the airlines had recently confided in The Guardian that the airlines were faced with multiple challenges of fuel and capacity constraints.
He narrated that out-of-operation Dana Air has a fleet of nine aircraft and daily flights network on Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri and other routes.
“Following its exit, those are routes that are now further devoid of flight options. There will be scarcity and disruptions. Those routes that have alternate airlines will push up prices seeing a spike in demand. Think of those people who depend on flight to get in and out of those places to avoid being killed or kidnapped on the road or rail.
“Aero Contractors has good connectivity between the North and South regions. Those routes will suffer and miss their operations. So, when I say that we are in a mess, that is what I mean and it is only going to get worse for the entire industry,” he added.
As of yesterday, The Guardian learnt that most seats on the busy Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna routes cost between N100,000 and N110,000 for one-way economy seats, while round-trip tickets cost between N180,000 and N200,000, depending on route, airline and time of purchase.
An airhostess at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Rivers State, who preferred anonymity, told The Guardian that there was serious decline in the number of air travellers, stating that most airlines do not have up to 50 per cent of passengers for each trip.
Speaking on the development, a resident of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who often travel by air, Mr. Douglas Manuel, said: “The scarcity in the aviation sector has to do with the inability of the refineries to work despite the Federal Government channeling resources to revamp them.
“Government should help the private sector to perform. There is need to regulate the private sector in a way that they can become optimally functional. Government needs to step up its game to ensure that the refineries are working. It bothers me because this is a public problem.”
Speaking in the same vein, a management expert, Dr. Damian Osondu, warned that the situation could bring the economy to its knee given the hyperinflation the country was already contending with. He stated that the development was dangerous to the survival, growth and stability of any economy, as well as the government in power.
Osondu said: “This is the worst any economy and government can face. It would leave survival of the people and businesses at the mercy of the few individuals who can afford it.
