As the Ministry of Aviation proceeds with plans to set up
a national carrier that would operate international, regional and domestic
services, it has emerged that Aero Contractors has been designated the nation’s
flag carrier.
It was gathered that the decision to designate Aero
Contractors as the national carrier was supposed to have been announced during
the October 1 national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s Independence by President
Goodluck Jonathan, but it was deferred for another date.
As a national carrier, Aero Contractors is expected to
enjoy preferential rights or privileges accorded by the federal government for
international operations.
It would hold some lucrative routes in monopoly, negotiate
commercial agreements, pools and bilateral agreements with foreign airlines, articulate
manpower training for the sector and serve as diplomatic tool for Nigeria.
Designating Aero Contractors as the national carrier would
also allow the airline to codeshare with other international airlines, as this
would improve Nigeria’s ability to take advantage of Bilateral Air Service
Agreement (BASA) it has in place with other countries.
Aero Contractors, it was further gathered, was selected
for the role because of the 60 per cent stake the Asset Management Corporation
of Nigeria (AMCON), a federal government institution, already holds in the
airline.
Under the arrangement, the federal government shall retain
60 per cent through AMCON, while Legacy Holdings, a company owned by the Ibru
family, will hold 40 per cent in the national carrier.
Also, AMCON would offer some of the
assets of the defunct Air Nigeria to Aero Contractors.
In this regard, an industry source said AMCON was undertaking a valuation of Air Nigeria assets, which it took over from UBA Capital when the latter assumed the loans of the airline.
He said: “AMCON is currently undertaking a valuation of Air Nigeria assets, which would be concluded in the next 30 days, following which they will be offered to Aero Contractors to expand its operations.”
In this regard, an industry source said AMCON was undertaking a valuation of Air Nigeria assets, which it took over from UBA Capital when the latter assumed the loans of the airline.
He said: “AMCON is currently undertaking a valuation of Air Nigeria assets, which would be concluded in the next 30 days, following which they will be offered to Aero Contractors to expand its operations.”
The source further revealed that AMCON would only hold on
to its 60 per cent shares in Aero Contractor for a limited period, after which
they will be sold to the public at some future date.
However, it was gathered that there is also a plan to
offload 10 per cent of the designated national carrier to a facilitator
suspected to be a top government official in the aviation sector. The
facilitator is said to have been responsible for facilitating the transaction.
The facilitator, it was learnt, has set up a Special
Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that would acquire 10 per cent of Aero Contractors three
years from now.
The source said under the deal, the facilitator would be
required to ensure that the airport is modernised and a hub is created to
enhance air traffic for the West African region as the conditions precedent for
the acquisition of the 10 per cent in three years time.
Although another source said the facilitator is a European
low cost airline, it is believed that the low cost carrier is being used as a
front for the government official.
Presently, Nigerian airlines do not airlift up to 10 per
cent of the estimated six million passengers who travel out of the country
annually.
Also, with the failure of domestic airlines to play a
significant role, international carriers export huge resources from the country
by way of earnings made from ticketing and remuneration for expatriate
personnel.
Besides, since the demise of Nigeria Airways, the country
has lost competences in different segments of the air transport industry
including manpower development.
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Society
Not a bad idea, I do hope that this is not politically motivated & executed
ReplyDeleteYes we hope it is not polically motivated atleast 4 once dis government shud be honest wit us n don't play politics,we will be watching sha
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