Airport privatization will aid in easing the federal government’s burden of subsidy payments, according to Alex Nwuba, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria.
He claimed that the privatization of the airports would also aid in their commercialization, making them more aware of customer needs and effective in terms of service delivery. He made this claim in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja.
Nwuba said, “Also, we may look at privatising our airports to make them more commercial so that they will be more responsive to customer needs and much more efficient in service delivery. Also, it will also remove a burden from the Federal Government, especially in the aspect of subsidy because if you are not making money and you will draw from the purse you are not increasing. So, going along the private sector direction through the Nigerian stock exchange will also provide stimulus to the exchange and the economy.”
While speaking on his expectation from aviation industry in 2023, he said,” I think we would continue to improve on safety and airport facilities. As we have pushed forward the national carrier project, I hope it will be reconfigured to make it a Nigerian national carrier.”
He added that new policies on the growth of labor market capacity should be provided and that the industry’s rules needed to be improved.
On the other hand, he asserted that the aviation university would support the growth of the sector’s labor force.
“Nigeria should also improve on the Single Africa Air Transport Market because we need to take advantage of it. Aviation in the future is looking quite good if the right policies are in place and the right steps are taken.”
