In a candid interview with Chief Executive Officer, Captain Ado Sanusi, of Aero Contractors, a troubling reality has been unveiled. The year 2023 saw Nigeria’s aviation sector grappling with significant challenges, primarily stemming from an ineffective regulatory framework, according to Sanusi.
During the interview, Sanusi highlighted that a series of airplane incidents in 2023 were largely attributed to the country’s inefficient regulatory framework overseen by government agencies. The implementation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 (Nig. CARs 2023) without the necessary infrastructure further compounded the sector’s woes, he emphasized.
The former CEO of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, also underscored persistent foreign exchange scarcity and multiple taxation as broader challenges haunting Nigeria’s aviation sector. Sanusi sounded a warning, urging the government to urgently address these issues to prevent the collapse of the aviation sector in 2024.
“The year 2023 revealed the ineffectiveness of aviation regulators and the resultant challenges faced by the industry. The reactive nature of regulators has led to a series of incidents, leaving operators disillusioned. Furthermore, the implementation of Nig. CARs 2023 posed a problem due to inadequate infrastructure to support the regulations,” Sanusi lamented.
He expounded on the broader economic impact, citing the negative effects of the country’s economic instability, foreign exchange scarcity, and unaddressed taxation. The ripple effect resulted in some airlines halting operations, with the ominous prospect of more facing the same fate due to economic hardships.
Notably, industry experts echoed fears over the escalating plane crash-landing incidents, reflecting the gravity of the challenges confronted by Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Sanusi’s revelations serve as a clarion call for the urgent reform of Nigeria’s aviation sector, signaling the imperative for a robust and effective regulatory framework, infrastructure enhancement, and responsive economic policies to safeguard the industry’s viability and safety.
