Th e president of Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Gbenga Olowo, has commended the federal government for the recently issued executive order designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in the aviation sector. In furtherance of what the he described as “unique presidential initiative” Olowo said ART “appreciates the dismantling of the “dash table “at our international airports which has improved passenger facilitation. He urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as well as trade unions to desist from embarrassing the country with acts of barricading check-in counters of airlines in order to collect outstanding payments.
“Th e agencies should develop effi cient and eff ective ways of collecting dues, rates and remittances from operators in the industry rather than strong arm tactics that could lead to break down of law and order in the airport environment. “Th e internal communication system among all agencies involved in the management of the air navigational services should be immediately overhauled for a modern technology driven with accurate and eff ective communication system to promote aviation safety.
“Th e communication gap often exhibited between airline operators and air traffi c controllers have variously resulted in instances of air and ground returns, abortion/cancelation of fl ights with attendant jeopardy to fl ight safety and fi nancial losses to airline operators who are the raison d’être. “Th e agencies should diligently discharge their duties to operators in the industry by ensuring that air navigational services and ground handling services both at the point of departure and destination are more effi cient in order to prevent incidences of fl ight clearance /approval at departure and denial of landing rights at destination.
“Th e agencies, which render services at a fee, should also be insured while also compensating for fi nancial losses resulting from negligence and failure to discharge responsibilities to operators, clients or passengers. Th is is the hallmark of corporate governance and ease of doing business. “ART assures the general public of its preparedness to support all measures by government and its agencies in the promotion of fl ight safety and passenger convenience towards the revival of the Nigerian economy and the ease of doing business,” said Olowo.
