ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Domestic airlines, represented by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant them the necessary license for importing and distributing aviation fuel, commonly known as JetA1.
Additionally, AON has requested the establishment of a dedicated support line for domestic airlines to access foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria, enabling them to fulfill their obligations to air travelers.
These appeals were made during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
The President of AON, Abdulmunaf Yunusa, explained that the purpose of the visit was to address sector challenges, offer solutions, and congratulate the minister on his recent appointment.
During the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Brass Aviation, Capt. Roland Iyayi, emphasized the urgent need for an adequate supply of aviation fuel and called for the liberalization, procurement, and distribution of JetA1 nationwide.
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He stressed the importance of allowing AON to obtain the necessary license for product importation and distribution, along with a review of industry taxes, fees, and charges to align with a cost recovery model.
“There is an urgent need to facilitate the liberalisation, 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.
Iyayi also highlighted the forex issue faced by airline operators and urged the Federal Government to establish a dedicated support line for accessing foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria at the official I & E window.
In response, Minister Keyamo acknowledged the forex challenge and committed to working with the Central Bank to explore avenues for operators to obtain forex at a lower interest rate.
He encouraged airline operators to prioritize safety, recognizing it as a fundamental element for the success of the aviation industry.
“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 said.