Aviation Stakeholders has suggested the need to develop, maintain and modernize aviation infrastructure to attract air traffic growth and more patronage of air transportation in the country.
Stakeholders made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), in Lagos on Tuesday.
The theme of the conference is “Financing Aviation Infrastructure Deficit in Nigeria Using Private Capital: Challenges and Prospect”.
Communiqué noted that the country remained a good infrastructure investment destination if existing opportunities are properly harnessed.
It said with four airports generating 87 per cent of total revenue from 22 airports in Nigeria and a record of about eight million air travellers from over 200 million population.
The communiqué said apart from innovations in technology particularly Air Traffic Management, there was need for innovations in processes and applications to achieve success in aviation infrastructure development, maintenance, and service delivery.
It said: “The Federal Government should provide enabling environment, reflected in enabling institutional, legal, regulatory, monitoring and evaluation framework for Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure to be developed.
“Also, the culture of good corporate governance by all stakeholders is needed to tackle the deficit in Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure development.
“The interest of aviation infrastructure users and service consumers must be in the front burner during decision making while they should be consulted by private capital providers.
“While the government policy decision makers on aviation infrastructure development to avoid retrogressive conflicts both in the process and at completion of such projects.
“There is need to improve access to private capital for financing aviation infrastructure by ensuring ease of doing business, access to low interest rate loans, access to multilateral financing and long term tenure for debts (10 to 20 years).”
The communiqué said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements on aviation infrastructure must come with investment protective laws and enforceable provisions.
It added that full disclosure by private capital entrepreneurs was needed to ensure accountability, transparency and confidence in such partnership arrangements.
The communiqué said there was need for consistency in government policies to protect investment in aviation infrastructure.
It noted that on aviation infrastructure financing, it was important for government to invest only in a suitable financing model, rather than copy just any model without considering suitability for the country’s make-up.
“Before embarking on any aviation infrastructure partnership arrangement, it is necessary to involve non-government stakeholders.
“This is in affirming the profile of private capital investment promoters to ensure their competence for execution and genuineness,” the communiqué said.
It said there was need to consider adapting the National Transportation Policy recommended by the 2014 National Conference.
According to the communiqué, this policy provided for integration of road, rail, air and water transportation in aviation infrastructure development planning.
NAN reports that the speakers included Dr. Olumuyiwa Aliu, Founder, International Partners For Aviation Development (IPADS); Prof. Bamidele Badejo, Dept of Geography, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
Others are Mr Femi Adeniji, COO, Tropical/Arctic Logistics; Mrs Adebimpe Ajimotokan, Head, Corporate Banking, Training/Comm, GTB; Mr Abiola Lawal, CEO, Quorum Aviation and Dr Gbenga Olowo, President, ASRTI.
