FG’S BAN STALLS REQUESTS FOR PRIVATE JETS BY OYEDEPO, DAZAIR

However, the suspension has sparked outrage in the aviation sector, as
industry stakeholders say the ban will derail the gains so far recorded in the
industry since the appointment of the current minister, Stella Oduah.
Some operators say the federal government will be infringing on the
constitutional rights of Nigerians to own property if it went through with the
proposed ban on the importation of private jets.
Captain Dele Ore, Aviation Lawyer and President of the Aviation
Roundtable, said he was not aware government had taken such a step to ban the
importation of private jets, but cautioned that such a move would only harm the
industry and stunt its growth.
He said, “The federal government is the alpha and omega; it can do
anything. It is just that the government has the penchant for doing the right
things the wrong way. Taking such an action would boomerang on the government
because there is no reason for such an action; it is simply being petty.
“The constitution allows people to spend their money the way they want.
The right to own property is embedded in our constitution. Placing a ban on the
importation of private jets will send a wrong signal to the world, especially
on the way we change our policies.
“It is very sad. Policies should not be changed overnight. Policies
should be changed in consultation with industry stakeholders. Some investors
are looking at starting Maintenance Repair Organisations (MROs) in Nigeria.
They are putting money here and will expect return on investment. The
government must allow them to invest and should allow the industry to grow. If
you place a ban on importation of private jets, how do you expect them to reap
on their investments, because the private jets would have to be maintained
also.
Another stakeholder, who would not want his name mentioned, said there
was evidence of the transformation agenda of the current administration in the
previously stagnant aviation sector, but that there is the need to build on the
gains.
He however, cautioned that government should not scare away investors as
every airline that comes into the country creates jobs and contributes to the
growth of the economy.
According to an airline executive who does not want to be named, Nigeria
operates a free enterprise and government cannot wake up one day and stop the
importation of private jets.
“The ban is not realistic,” he said. “I don’t think there is any truth
in that report because we operate a free enterprise and people have a right to
spend their money on what pleases them as long as they meet up with
government’s requirements for such things – like payment of duties and others.
Government would only attract litigations if it places a ban on the importation
of private jets.”
On his part, the managing director of Capital Airlines, Captain Amos
Akpan, said there was no authenticity in the report that the government wanted
to ban the importation of private jets because the pronouncement did not come
from the minister of aviation, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) or any other government functionary. He said he regards the
report as mere rumour.
“I know how to give advice and I cannot comment on that because it is a
mere rumour,” he said.
The acquisition of private jets has been on the increase within the last
three years and Nigerians are said to have invested more than N1.3 trillion in
acquiring luxury jets within this period.
Source: Leadership