Stella Oduah, Aviation
Minister
Operators of non-schedule airlines have protested
the new charges introduced by the federal government describing the charges as
outrageous and out of tune with international practices. The operators have also
filed a case in court to stop the charges.
A major operator, who is based in Lagos, told
THISDAY Wednesday that those charges would discourage international visitors to
the country because it means that anyone coming to the country with his jet
would have to carry $3,000 cash, which he would pay before he would be given a
start up to take off.
Another operator based in Kaduna said the charges
were ill advised, noting that it is not every airline that has aircraft that
carry out charter services; and that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
should identify those who operate such service and charge them such fees.
On Monday the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency
(NAMA) began the enforcement of the new charges and foreign-registered aircraft
is meant to pay $3000 on round trip, while locally registered aircraft should
pay $2,500.
The agency dubbed the charges luxury tax, which
it said should be paid by the highbrow, net worth individuals who enjoy the
charter services.
An operator who also owns private terminal
facility in Lagos told THISDAY, “Such charges are not done anywhere in the
world. By introducing these charges they are just killing Nigeria’s economy and
this means that foreigners that come to Nigeria should have a cash of $6,000 to
pay as charges. Nigeria should join the league of modern world,” he said.
The operator also said with emphasis, “The
Ministry of Aviation is killing the nation’s economic system; it is very bad
because these charges add no benefit to the economy; rather it makes Nigeria
look backward. Government should think because this policy is ill-advised.”
The source also remarked that NCAA knows those
who are doing charter, so it would be wrong for the agency to impose the charges
on everybody when they know how to identify and specifically charge the charter
operators.
“NCAA knows those who are doing charter. It is
those ones they should punish; it is not good to spread the charges on
everybody. We have filed a case at Abuja court praying that government should
stop the charges. People are angry. This is not the way to do things.”
Culled from Thisday
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