Air traffic controllers threaten to ground Nigeria’s airports Wednesday

Flights across airports in the country may be grounded on Wednesday, September 18, as air traffic controllers are set to protest the 50 per cent deduction made by the Federal Government from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of aviation agencies.

The National President of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Abayomi Agoro, said in a statement, yesterday, that the safety-critical activities of Nigeria’s aviation sector are ‘slowly grinding to a halt, reaching levels that are unacceptable.’

Agoro said that the agencies within the sector are financially constrained, rendering the sector dysfunctional, hence the urgent need for the Federal Government to exempt aviation agencies from the 50 per cent deduction.

He claimed that the policy is severely undermining the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation sector and should be stopped.

“We want to place it on record that the safety-critical activities of the entire aviation sector are slowly grinding to a halt, reaching levels that are unacceptable. The agencies within the sector are financially constrained, rendering the sector dysfunctional. This alarming situation, if left unaddressed, poses significant risks to the safety and operational effectiveness of Nigerian airspace.

“It should also be on record that NATCA will not assume responsibility should a strain on the sector’s safety and operational needs result in any critical incident or accident. The continued financial constraints imposed by these deductions are compromising our ability to deliver safe, efficient air traffic control services.

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“Considering these developments, NATCA’s council, by this press release, places all air traffic controllers on notice that our mother union has directed a nationwide protest effective from ‘00:00 hours on the 18th of September 2024’, all controllers are to comply with the instructions from our mother union until further notice.

“Further instructions will be communicated in due course through the secretariat. We call on the Federal Government to act swiftly to exempt aviation agencies from the IGR deduction policy and address the financial challenges threatening the safety and functionality of Nigeria’s airspace,” Agoro said.

Daily Sun had on Thursday reported that unions in the aviation industry would on Wednesday, September 18, stage a nationwide protest over the same issue.

The unions comprising the National Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Practitioners (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees  (AUPCTRE) and the Air Transports Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSSAN), stateed that the protest is to demand the discontinuation of the 50 per cent deduction.

The unions led by their leaders, Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), Francis Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Olayinka Abioye NAAPE) and Sikiru Waheed (AUPCTRE), directed their members in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) at the all airports nationwide to join the protest.

The unions said that information available to them indicates that some critical safety activities of agencies like FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, and NiMet are grinding to a halt over lack of funding.

They also stated that all efforts on their part to convince the Federal Government to stop the deductions, as agencies are cost recovery and not profit-making organisations, have failed.

They stressed that the agencies cannot survive on half of their incomes under the model of administration or any other guise whatsoever.

Air traffic controllers threaten to ground Nigeria’s airports Wednesday

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,  Mr.  Festus Keyamo at the weekend disclosed that  President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for the concession of four international airports terminals namely :  Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja;  Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano; and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Speaking during the inspection of facilities at the E-Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Keyamo  said the big plan for the airports, especially the international terminals, remains the option of concessioning them to the best operators/managers with global pedigree.

He said : “We are looking for the best partners in the world to come and collaborate with us in turning the airport around and running them professionally. And all will be to the ultimate benefit of Nigerians.

“We are going public very soon and it is going to be the best. I spoke to Mr. President about it. Mr. President said, Minister, go for the best. Nobody is interested in whoever is coming to do it. The process that was done before, maybe you asked that there was a process before we came into the office. We halted that process because there were complaints. I am sure you know that. There were litigations. People went to court. It was not transparent enough. But under this government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, it is going to be as transparent as possible.

“The president gave us marching orders, and said go and do it as transparently as possible. Look for the best bid, the best hands to come and turn around our efforts and run our airports. And that is where we are going ultimately,” he said.

He said the improvements at the E-Wing is aimed at providing excellent customer satisfaction and creating more awareness about government zero tolerance for harassment, touting and extortion.

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“There is a great improvement here. The management and staff, they worked very hard at making this place look very welcoming and a big lift from where it was before. This is not where we are going. This is not our big plan for the airport.

“But this is a low-hanging fruit we can hang on to for now. We want to make the place as conducive as possible for passengers who are coming into Nigeria. And that is why you can see that the management, they have actually initiated very simple ideas and executed very simple ideas to make the place very cozy. More lighting, new toilets, new signs. For instance, I want to show Nigerians this in particular. Now, we have been very concerned, Nigerians have been very concerned about the issue of harassment at the airport, touting at the airport, and extortion by even uniformed personnel.

“Now, our first step in addressing this issue is what you have seen here. So for Nigerians, please look at this. When you come into the E-Wing of the international airport in Lagos, you are going to see a sign discouraging, touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria.

“Now, there is a QR code. You must make use of it. Don’t come and go to the media and complain that there is nobody to speak to when you are harassed by law enforcement agencies. Use the QR code, use the hotlines and make a call there and then. Don’t say, oh, there was nobody, they dragged you to one corner and they took money from you. Make that call.

“Pick your phone and make that call and you will be attended to. We also encourage people to be courteous, to be respectful also to the law enforcement agencies at the borders. But at the same time, we have also taken measures to ensure that we put a leash around our law enforcement agencies. So here you will see it and you will see not only this, you will see it as strategic positions around the airport. It is not the final solution to it but this is the first big step towards addressing the issue of touting,” he added.

Also speaking,  the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku said the Authority is ready for business, adding: ‘but the investments we need to improve the facilities and the infrastructure in the aviation sector cannot only come in from the federal government.’

She added that the Minister for this reason, has over the past few weeks,  engaged with the private sector as well as other government institutions globally ‘to make sure that we can better collaborate. Especially around new terminal development, when it comes to increasing our routes so there is some work around route development too’.

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession

Air Peace: We’ll respond to Nigeria’s threat to bar BA, others, says UK

On August 1, 2024, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, issued a bold ultimatum to the United Kingdom government, setting the stage for a potential standoff between the two nations in the aviation sector. In his emphatic statement, Keyamo made it clear that unless the Nigerian airline, Air Peace, is granted the much-coveted landing slots at London Heathrow Airport, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic could face the possibility of being denied access to Nigeria’s major international gateways—Lagos and Abuja.

The minister’s warning is contained in a letter to UK Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh and reflects Nigeria’s growing determination to ensure fair treatment for its airlines on the global stage, emphasising that the nation’s aviation sector can no longer be sidelined in key international markets, especially as Air Peace has been forced to fly to Gatwick Airport.

Keyamo’s stance signals Nigeria’s readiness to assert its position, seeking reciprocity in international aviation agreements and standing firm against what is perceived as unequal access to lucrative routes.

This move, if acted upon, could disrupt the long-standing operations of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, two of the most prominent international carriers servicing Nigeria. At the heart of the issue is Nigeria’s quest for equity and access to competitive markets, a challenge that Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading carriers, has faced in securing operational rights at one of the world’s busiest airports.

Keyamo told his UK counterpart giving Air Peace Gatwick airport was a blatant violation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries, which promotes reciprocal rights for airlines.

Keyamo said that while British carriers enjoy unrestricted access to Nigeria’s tier one airports, which are in Abuja and Lagos, Air Peace has been unable to obtain slots at Heathrow. He demanded immediate action to rectify the situation, warning that Nigeria will not tolerate the unfair treatment of its national carrier.

No response from the UK government

Daily Sun reached out to UK’s Transport Secretary, to verify if she has received Keyamo’s letter and what the UK government intends to do to resolve the dispute. In response, an email was sent by her researcher, Mr. Henry Smith, saying the Daily Sun’s request has been transferred to the Department of Transport. Daily Sun then sent a Freedom of Information request to the UK’s Department of Transport and the department acknowledged receipt of the request, saying a response will be issued in due time.

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Daily Sun also contacted the Minister’s office to verify if there has been a response from the UK government on the issue and his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Tunde Moshood, said none has been received yet.

Airport slot allocation

Following the demands made by the Minister in his letter, Daily Sun sought to verify the issues raised. This paper analysed the 38-page Nigeria-UK BASA signed in 1988, which is administratively still in force and it revealed a very significant oversight: the absence of provisions addressing airport slot allocation. Though the aspect of frequencies was clearly spelt out in the BASA, airport slot alocation wasn’t. There has been no change of rules since the signing in 1988 and Daily Sun understands that the omission of airport slot allocation may likely be attributed to the non-scarcity of slots at the time of the agreement’s drafting. The allocation of slots at Heathrow airport is managed by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), an independent slot coordinator in which the UK government has no input and is subject to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines.

An industry stakeholder who prefers anonymity, echoed Daily Sun’s findings, telling the paper that the Nigeria-UK BASA designates city destinations rather than specific airports. The stakeholder said Heathrow cannot be explicitly mentioned in the agreement as it falls outside the purview of the Department of Transport and that given the UK government’s lack of involvement in airport slot allocation, Air Peace must independently address this issue.

“The BASA specifies city destinations not particular airports. In the case of the UK, this means a bilateral agreement will never specify Heathrow since this is not in the remit of the department of transport. The UK government plays no part in airport slot allocation, so, the onus is on Air Peace to fight this battle. The politics is complicated. It is a matter of fact that considerable debt for Nigerian airlines that operated in London remain as they still owe large sums of money to UK airports. By failing to acknowledge the truth of our circumstances and also the fact that it is our own fault that we are not taking full advantage of the BASA, we do ourselves no favours, “ the stakeholder said.

Daily Sun can also report that there was a review of the BASA in 2008 which allowed for multiple airlines from each country and a substantial number of weekly flights. The UK and Nigeria may designate up to four airlines each and frequencies are restricted to 21 passenger services per week to each side; UK airlines – between any points in the UK and Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Nigerian airlines, between any point in Nigeria and London. While UK carriers have taken full advantage of these provisions, Nigeria’s absence of a national carrier has significantly hindered its ability to capitalise on it. To compensate, domestic carriers are often designated as ‘flag or national carriers’ for the purpose of fulfilling these agreements like in the case of Arik Air.

However, the 2003 International Civil Aviation Oganisation (ICAO) conference highlighted the growing importance of airport slot management due to capacity constraints at major airports. The conference recommended addressing slot-related issues and suggested prioritising countries with non-slot-constrained airports. The body said the principles of fairness, non-discrimination, transparency, and stakeholder consideration should be prioritised for any slot allocation system.

Way forward

Industry experts who spoke to Daily Sun said the minister’s letter to his UK counterpart is a bold move. Their argument is that by limiting Air Peace to Gatwick, while British carriers enjoy access to Lagos and Abuja, the UK is effectively hindering the Nigerian airline’s commercial viability and competitive position. They however pointed out that a collaborative approach involving the aviation authorities of both countries, Heathrow Airport, and Air Peace is essential to resolve this issue. Aviation expert, Amos Akpan said that while potential disruptions to travelers and businesses are a concern, the Minister’s actions aims to level the playing field and ensure fair competition between Nigerian and British carriers. While Alex Nwuba says a resolution that secures Heathrow slots for Air Peace is crucial for the growth of the Nigerian aviation industry.

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Akpan said the Minister’s proposal to relocate British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operations away from Lagos and Abuja should be carefully considered because of its potential consequences. He advised that contingency plans to address the diplomatic tensions likely to arise from such a decision must be developed. Additionally, he said, strategies to minimise the inconvenience for passengers and businesses connecting to destinations beyond London Heathrow should be prioritised.

“Our minister of aviation is well within his role by writing to the UK transportation secretary threatening to stop BA and Virgin from operating to Lagos Abuja unless Air Peace is given slots at Heathrow and he has a strong case. The Lagos and Abuja traffic is a good negotiation tool that will impact BA and VA dislocation on this route. By logic it is also the Heathrow traffic that will make Air Peace gain commercial viability on the route.

“The best option is for UK CAA, Nigerian CAA, Heathrow ACL, and Air Peace to meet and work out solutions. At worst, it may involve extra financial costs in the interim. Limiting Air Peace to Gatwick while BA and VA operates Lagos and Abuja and Heathrow violates the principle in the BASA between the UK and Nigeria. This restriction to Gatwick harms Air Peace potential commercial viability on the London route. It does not position Air Peace to be competitive with BA and VA on the route. Reciprocity is the cardinal principle in BASA. If the BASA is not specific about Heathrow, Lagos and Abuja as the designated entry ports for carriers between the UK and Nigeria, then our minister can use the reallocation to other airports in Nigeria.

“This action may throw up unpleasant consequences like a diplomatic row. The worst may be discomfort to travelers and traders that use London Heathrow airport as their gateway and transit. But they are the reason for the struggle in the first instance. The minister’s action will pressure the British aviation authorities to also pressure the Heathrow airport slot coordinators to find slots for Air Peace,” Akpan said.

Nwuba told Daily Sun that the Minister’s initial public threat to demote British Airways to a lower-tier airport was a strategic misstep, which may create a negative atmosphere for constructive dialogue. He said however that the Minister can achieve his goals through persistence and he must maintain a firm stance as the UK may adopt a tough negotiating position.

“The Minister can get what he wants by being persistent and unrelenting but he must stick to his guns. TheUK will also play hardball with him but Nigeria is a very important market for UK carriers. He however shouldn’t have started with the supposed threat of banishing BA to a low tier airport and publicly because it sets a negative tone to begin serious discussions,” he said.

Air Peace: We’ll respond to Nigeria’s threat to bar BA, others, says UK