CHALLENGES FOR 2012

The challenges before us in 2012 are numerous. They are however surmountable if we have the will, support and leadership from Government and the owners of the flag carriers.

We should start with the EU sponsored emission tax regime which will be implemented from the 1st of January 2012, under the planned Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). Airlines using EU airspace will have to pay a fee for carbon emissions that exceed a set limit. They will also need to pay for the part of the journey covered in airspace outside the EU. Nigeria has joined a dozen other countries to voice her opposition, it will be good to see the government having a stand alone position to intimate the world they support their flag carriers. The Indian government has just directed Indian carriers not to submit carbon emission data to EU and should also forward any correspondence from the EU to the civil aviation Ministry for further action. This stance is harder and more independent position like that of the American and Chinese government.

Government should improve intelligence gathering, cooperation; provide extra and functioning CCTV cameras while ensuring the perimeter fences within and around the airports are intact. Considering, the heightened terrorist activities in the country they may see airports and aircrafts as soft targets.

Government should also strengthen regulations to protect travelers; this will help ensure that air travelers receive the respect they deserve before, during and after flights. Its regulations should be targeted at hidden fees, charges, delays, cancellation and involuntary bumping. Also investigations into fixing and discriminatory fares should be extended to other carriers, on the other hand, action should be expedited on the anti-trust laws and an independent competition authority, so Nigeria might have the benefit of information- sharing with its counterparts and more importantly tackle exploitative monopolist.

The underground agitation and lobbying to replace the DG NCAA, whose tenure will soon come to an end, should be handled with care. Government should be meticulous in picking a replacement, if they are unable to convince him to stay for a second term. That position requires a well bred technocrat with requisite background, backed with international contacts within the industry not political contact. The industry needs to retain and sustain the present level of safety awareness and acceptance; they must jettison the ethnic balancing option.

The government should continue the remodeling of the airports while an alternate funding arrangement must be devised to sustain the process and the airports in its entirety. The rancorous PPP arrangement in the industry should not tar the beauty of that option.

The owners of the domestic carriers need to leave their cocoon and speak out on issues related to the industry. A lot of the problems in the industry have been driven by management teams caring "a lot more about beating each other up rather than having a functioning industry". Employees, critics, analyst are not relenting in getting the industry back to its feet with the necessary protection from government. It will be more effective if the process is championed by the owners of these carriers, through its umbrella body the AON, which needs an urgent re-branding regime.

Its another year and a challenge for all industry participants to ensure that aviators gets national honours, our skies have been safe and attested to internationally, yet certain personnel and investors have not been recognised when Aki and Paw-Paw have been picked, Haba ! !