Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, AFARN, has commended the federal government for finally paying the outstanding trapped funds of foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
Recall the federal government last week announced the release of the outstanding funds of the affected foreign airlines to their commercial banks for immediate payment.
Addressing the media at the corporate office of AFARN in Lagos, the President of AFARN, Dr kingsley Nwokoma acknowledged that substantial percentage of the funds has been paid to the affected airlines and therefore called on the foreign airlines to start selling low inventory tickets that were withheld by them.
Dr Nwokoma said : “To be precise, the last time we interacted, we zeroed our discussion mainly on the funds of foreign carriers, trapped in our system which of course is no longer news if you ask me. The news however is that out of $800 Million US Dollars, that substantial percentage of the funds has been paid to the affected airlines, even as the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, (SAN), is making concerted efforts to ensure that Foreign carriers, operating into the country are not short changed under any guise.”
” Therefore we commend the minister for hitting the ground running and also the Central Bank of Nigeria for having a listening ear given the austere time, the country is going through”.
Speaking also on the bold move by Nigerian carrier, Air Peace airline, to commence London route operation later on this month, the AFARN President said :” AFARN congratulates Air Peace Airlines on its recent bold and mile stone for venturing into the Lagos- London route and wish more Nigerian carriers can explore same option for more international routes. Here also, we want to state that collaboration and alliances are key in world aviation. No one airline can do it alone. We will continue to seek this collaboration among operators. Similarly, AFARN also encourages the foreign airlines to start selling low inventory tickets to the flying public. This will not only boost the business in the industry but would increase the number of air passengers”.
While expressing his delight at positive development in the the aviation sector in the country, he advised state governments to key into the benefits the aviation sector can give their respective states and stop complete reliance on revenue from the oil sector.
He said : ” As the president of AFARN whose eyes is constantly on the activities in the industry, I cannot but acknowledge the fact that progress is being made to reposition the aviation industry. I said so because I am privy to some of the plans which I cannot let out of the bag yet.
” Most of you for instance are aware of what is going on in the Cargo sector, whereby state owned cargo airports are springing up, with the overriding intent to stimulate the economy and to also ensure that Nigeria goods are sold to the outside world. I am also aware that lots and lots of standardization, modernization and procedures are being carried out to make operations simple and to also reduce bureaucratic procedures that makes imports clearing and export forwarding friendlier to ensure the acceptability of international values.
“On the final note, we want to remind us all of our flagship Annual Safety Summit. It will come up in the third quarter of the year. Date, venue and time will be made public to you, our good friends of the media. AFARN is committed to be partners in progress in the aviation industry of our country, having also taken it upon ourselves on yearly basis to assemble safety experts in the industry to canvass and deepen the issue of safety which is the bedrock of our industry practice, and the world over”, he revealed.
