ABUJA, AUGUST 16, 2016 – The Aviation Committee in the Senate yesterday said it had concluded plans to summon the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika over the exit of foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Adamu Aliero, made the disclosure yesterday while speaking to journalists immediately after a maiden meeting between the committee and various aviation agencies which held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.
According to the lawmaker, the shortage of aviation fuel in the country, which led to some foreign airlines shutting down operations in Nigeria was a problem that could be resolved by the federal government.
He added that inspite of Nigeria being an oil producing country, it was most embarrassing to find local and foreign airlines purchasing aviation fuel from neighbouring countries.
Lamenting the challenges of funding faced by the aviation sector, Senator Aliero assured that the National Assembly will amend the constitution so as to make for convenient repatriation of funds owed by airlines to the coffers of the federal government.
The lawmaker also stated that for the aviation industry to thrive, there was the need to unbundle the sector, adding that doing so would shore up its revenue profile.
