Nigeria: 'Crises in Aviation Sector Imminent ' Hot

The recent hike in aviation fuel price by the federal government could cause serious crises in the aviation industry, as the industry stakeholders are said to have been holding meeting with a view to taking definite stance on the matter.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the stakeholders who are mostly private airline operators may either increase the cost of airfare or shutdown operation to protest government decision.

The Chief Executive Officer of Sky Power Airways and former Managing Director of the rested Nigerian Airways, Captain Mohammad Joji who expressed concern over the hike, said, "We are on discussion with my colleagues to take a decision. We are now put in a situation where we can take a decision."

Speaking while addressing Journalists in his office in Kaduna, Captain Joji said, "government increases the aviation fuel price because of greed, nepotism and complacency."

"Why I call for this briefing is to inform you about the recent hike in the aviation fuel price, from N170 to N190 , an increase of 12 percent just over night."Twenty years ago, we were buying the fuel at 31 kobo, and now with this amount of price the increase is about 61 thousand percent.

"Now to pay for fuel, an average airplane with 80 passengers has to charge N9, 375. Just to pay for fuel. Now if we increase airfare people will start complaining, when we increase the airfare the passengers would hit the road and when they hit the road accidents will increase.

"Government should put its head down and deal with the so-called cartel in the oil industry. Don't hit us, hit the cartel, don't hit the airlines, hit the cartel.

"We are ready to work, we are ready to serve.

"We have succeeded in investing about 3 billion dollars in the aviation industry with the number of private airlines we have. And without aviation, there would be no single oil.

"Government should not take advantage of us, because government thinks we cannot ground the air flight," he said.