BY EMEKA MAMAH

LAGOS -The Federal Government has been urged to review the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, which it signed with the British government about 53 years ago.

Coordinator, South-South, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, ICEN and member, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, CILT, Mr Friday Udoh, who made the call, said the agreement had become too obsolete, apart from being skewed in favour of Britain.

Udoh, who sopke against the backdrop of the stand-off between Nigeria and Britain, told Vanguard in an interview that Nigeria had lost so much in revenue over non-review of the agreement since it was signed with her colonial master.

He said: “What the Federal Government has been doing in the last 53 years has been to renew the agreement periodically. The BASA was deliberately allowed to be abused by the government.

’’It is scandalous to understand that we are short-changed by the foreign airline operators in connivance with relevant government agencies whose duty should be to protect the economy and sovereign rights of all Nigerians.

’’The inaction of the Federal Government on this matter has caused our local airline operators and the country’s aviation industry as a whole, a lot of socio-economic losses too much to bear as many local operators have wound up while those still operating are struggling to remain afloat.

’’Indeed, we are trapped with heavy debt burden as our local airlines cannot meet their tax obligations in view of the pitiable condition of the nation aviation industry, hence it has become imperative for both the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary to close ranks in this matter and rescue the country from this aviodable problem.

’’We should develop a resilient structure to enhance economic growth through the aviation industry.

‘’I am certain that relevant government agencies responsible for aviation matters are guilty of derection duties because of the stipends they get from foreigners to look the other way while our economy continues to bleed.

“Today we have opened even our doors to everyone, including our enemies in the spirit of globalization otherwise, why can’t we learnt from United State of America which banned steel importation, through her Steel Revitalization Act (HR 808) of 2001, despite being a member and signatoryto the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, World Trade Organisation, WTO, Multilateral Trade Agreements, MTAs and Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT.

“There is no sensible nation that allows, every Dick, Tom and Harry to have a field day in its domestic market, but this happens in Nigeria, where foreign airlines have penetrated domestic market, depriving local carriers of the local market or short haul which should have sustained domestic operators.

’’With upwards of seven frequencies into Murtala Muhammed International Airport with little less than that in Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport routs, foreign airlines have chased our local airlines out of the business,’’ Udoh said.