The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI),has said that the woes of airline operators in Nigeria will linger on account of spiralling aviation fuel prices without conscious efforts to nip it in the bud.
Its Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona,who disclosed this in a statement,said the previous intervention by the National Assembly alongside the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that saw the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) supply Jet-A1 at a discounted price of N480/litre may not have achieved the desired results.
She said the sector has continued to suffer from persistent shocks and disruptions to operations,stressing that the chamber is concerned about the aviation crisis because of the systemic importance of air travel for the conduct of trade and commerce across borders.
She added: ‘’The organised private sector urges the Government to take immediate steps toward resolving the crises in the aviation sector. Air transportation is considered one of the safest channels considering the despicable level of insecurity in the country. Hence, resolving the continued fuel crisis facing the safest transport channel is critical for the business community. While the Government tackles terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers who have taken over major highways in the country, the Government must immediately consider involving the CBN and the NNPC in making foreign exchange available for aviation fuel imports.
‘’ However, the more sustainable solution would be refining Jet-A1 fuel for our local consumption. While we acknowledge that the current energy crisis is real and global, it is aggravating in Nigeria because we do not produce the oil. The aviation sector qualifies for targeted financing to facilitate economic activities in the country, boost economic growth and avert an imminent recession’’.
