The Federal
Government, it has been reported, expects the airports to at least, meet their
running costs. Government, at the moment, meets much of those costs, which it
said it would henceforth, no longer bear. Indeed, government now expects FAAN
to contribute 25 per cent of its earnings to the coffers.
Consequently,
FAAN has reportedly set up a committee to visit the airports and assess their
viability, especially in terms of developing non-aeronautical revenue sources
that would attract people to the airports. It needs to be emphasized that
passenger traffic and revenue generation at airports complement each other.
FAAN should therefore evaluate its options critically before embarking on
non-aeronautical services at non-functional airports. At the moment, airports
are not the most pressing need of Nigerians. Nigerians need first class good
roads and a functional railway system to support production and even national
integration.
Generally,
the aviation sector in Nigeria is faced with many challenges. The airports are
not well-maintained and that Nigeria’s four international airports are ranked
among the worst in Africa is indicative of not only bad management but also
poor political leadership. The airports, Murtala
Muhammed International Airport in Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport, are also evident to Nigerians
as monuments to shame for a country of Nigeria’s size and economy. Poor in
design and horrible in maintenance and service delivery, these airports are a
great disincentive to travelling and tourism as an economic tool for Nigeria’s
development. The Akanu Ibiam
International Airport in Enugu is operating far below half capacity with
only one international airline flying there. Similarly, the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, is
hardly measuring up. The remaining 16 airports are virtually dormant and at the
same time weighed down by a heavy financial burden. Most of the infrastructures
at the airports are rotting away.
Yet, while
the existing airports are lying dormant, some state governments have been in a
mad rush to build new ones, which amounts to waste of scarce resources and also
compounds the problem. Substandard infrastructure is the signature of Nigeria’s
airports. Some have no landing facilities, especially, for night operations or
for bad weather.
Yet, there
are examples from which Nigeria can learn. For instance, the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
considers developing integrated facilities at its airports chain as necessity.
Consequently, Indian airports have developed infrastructure designed to boost
commercial activity. AAI enhances its marketing strategy to make its airports
operationally and commercially viable and also focuses on the cargo segment to
boost its revenues. The San Francisco Airport
reportedly generates significant economic benefits for the entire Bay Area
through direct employment, induced employment, and business revenues. The
airport makes for convenient and affordable business travel across the United
States and around the world for big companies located in the Bay Area. That
way, the airport is financially secure for long term viability even as it
continues to make facility improvements for now and the future.
For the
Nigerian authorities’ information, it is not compulsory that an airport, once
built, must remain operational if it is not viable. It is a business venture
and circumstances may change to make an airport adjust to realities. The Plymouth City Airport, opened in 1925,
was closed in 2011, after the city council that owned it sought a new operator
but none came forth. The airport closed despite being one of the few U.K.
airports that experienced significant growth in 2009. Aviation business is
capital-intensive and is covered by international rules and regulations that
must be adhered to. The Nigerian authorities should not only ensure compliance
with the regulations for a safe aviation industry, they must do so within the
context of profitability and best business practices.
Any state
government that builds an airport should seek to operate it profitably or find
an operator. Otherwise, that government should be held to account by the people
for embarking on such an irresponsible flight of fancy. FAAN should then do an
audit of all the airports and close those adjudged to be unviable to prevent
further waste. (Guardian)
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