By Jimoh Babatunde & Daniel Eteghe
Following the Federal Government’s intention to create a new national carrier after the demise of Nigerian Airways eight years ago, stakeholders in the aviation industry have continued to applaud the efforts of the government.

Speaking during  an interactive session with newsmen at a function  organised by the Air France KLM branch of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), National President of the union, Comrade Muhammed Dauda Safiyanu stated that workers in the aviation industry have been calling on the government to create a national carrier.

He further noted that he was glad to know that the government was listening to the yearnings of players in the aviation sector adding that the workers were still grieving  over the demise of Nigeria Airways.

Comrade Dauda affirmed that there was no way that Nigeria would develop as a hub in the aviation industry without having a national carrier in the country.

“The fact of the matter is that there is no way that you develop aviation industry in the country without having your own national carrier, it is not possible. We are talking about developing a hub, how can you develop a hub, will Ethiopian Airline leave Ethiopia to come and develop a hub for you or Lufthansa leave Germany to come and develop a hub for you or British Airways leave Britain to come and develop a hub for you?” he asked.

He added: “You must have your national carrier before the hub can be developed. So there are  lots of advantages to it but it is so very unfortunate that some people are talking against it.”

Comrade Dauda pointed out that the new national carrier could be set up as a public limited liability company whereby the Federal Government would have a small percentage of equity while the larger share would be owned by the general public.

“The Federal Government can have a very small percentage of equity in the business of the national carrier, the public can have the larger percentage of the equity, what they should do is, get an expert to come and run this business, that is what is called corporatisation.”

He stressed that the rate of percentage for the government could be ten per cent while the public would have 70 per cent with the remaining 20 per cent given to the workers in the aviation industry, adding that the unions were ready to work with the government on this.

“When this is done, honestly, we will still have this pride, sometimes it pains us when we travel out of this country, we are members of the affiliate of International Transport Federal Trade Union, when we meet our counterparts from other countries that are working in the airport, we see how the airports are, but look at the conditions of our airports, generally it is very unfortunate honestly speaking,” he added.

Asked about the exploitation of Nigerian travelling public by British Airways in charging higher price in Nigeria than other West African countries, Comrade Dauda said: ”Well, that is why we are saying that we should have a national carrier, when we don’t have this national carrier, all these things are bound to happen.”

“In fact, even what happened between BA and Arik Air over the London route, yes what she did was right but even by law, a criminal in the country needs to be protected yes. So what we are saying is that in order to solve all these problems, get a national carrier that will have that national interest and all these problems will be solved”

“The government should have 100 percent interest in the national carrier in terms of its policy and all that but the equity that I am talking about, I am talking about the investment, they can’t invest 100 percent on the national carrier but let’s have some investment from their own part too”

Also commenting on the need for a national carrier, Chief Executive of Belujane Konzult, Chris Aligbe noted that the absence of a national carrier in Nigeria has prevented the country from effectively competing with other airlines in the international aviation industry.

According to him, he pointed out that countries like South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and so on were countries that you could hardly compete with because they have a national carrier that would give you the fight and competition of your life.

“You don’t fly into any routes in South Africa, South African Airways will give you the competition of your life. You don’t do this in Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, not even in Tunisia. They will give you the fight of your life and you will know that you are in for a different kettle of fish” he affirmed.

Earlier the federal government had proposed to give hundred percent equity to the general public as soon as the new national carrier was created.

Minister of Aviation Princes. Stella Oduah who disclosed this in Abuja recently stated that the government was even planning to build more new terminal across the country adding that a proper project plan to carter for all these would be rolled out in January 2012.