Lagos airport
‘Allow us import JET-A1’ – Airlines urge FG
Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has asked the Federal Government to allow its members access to foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and also the licence to import JET-A1, also known as aviation fuel.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja, The President, AON, Abdulmunaf Yunusa, explained that the request was informed by the need to enable the carriers meet their obligations to air travellers.
In a formal presentation made to the minister during the visit, the Chief Executive Officer, Top Brass Aviation, Capt. Roland Iyayi, a member of rhe AON delegation, stated that it had become imperative for the Federal Government to liberalise the process and system of procurement and distribution of JetA1 nationwide and allow AON ‘to procure requisite licence for product importation and distribution and also immediate review of all industry taxes, fees and charges to determine applicability in line with cost recovery model.’
He said airline operators were the end users and should be granted permission to penetrate the market to source aviation fuel and distribute, stressing that AON had been denied that right for a long time.
Iyayi also told Keyamo that the issue of foreign exchange (forex) had become a major challenge for the operators.
“We call on the Federal Government to establish and provide a dedicated support line for domestic airline operators to have unfettered access of foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria at the official I & E window in support of local and international transactions,” he stated.
Responding, Keyamo said the challenge of foreign exchange had been lingering, but promised his guests that ‘the ministry will liaise with the CBN to see how operators can get forex at a single-digit interest rate of 1.5 to two per cent as requested.’
He then charged the operators to always ensure the safety of their airlines, stressing that this was key to the success of the aviation industry.
Earlier, AON President, Yunusa had explained that the visit was to brief the minister about the challenges in the sector and proffer solutions, as well as congratulate him on his recent appointment as minister.
The issue of JET-A1 has dominated discourse in the aviation sector for some years as operators lament situations where nearly 80 per cent of generated revenue is spent on aviation fuel purchase from the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).
The National Assembly has severally brokered peace between airline operators and the oil dealers over pricing of the commodity.
According to AON, the present high cost of air travel will significantly drop in the country if the pump price of aviation fuel is reduced.
