Air Peace Boss applaudes Aviation Minister For Flight Reciprocity Policy
The Federal Government has been commended for its plan to activate the reciprocity policy in granting permissionto airlines as the country reopens its international gateways for flight operations. Reciprocity is one of the policies in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This means that only countries that give permission to Nigerian airlines to operate in and out of its countries would equally be allowed to operate into Nigeria.
However, apart from West African countries that some Nigerian airlines operate into, only Air Peaceflies long haul scheduled services to Sharjay, United Arab Emirates (UAE), out of the country. Chief Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace said the decision by Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, would elevate the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations and send signals to international airlines that it is no more business as usual.
A letter personally signed by Onyema and sent to Sirika said that the Minister had caused a positive revolution in the aviation world if the policy could be implemented. He insisted that with this decision, the Minister had brought so much respect to the country, adding that Nigerians all over the world are walking tall with enormous pride since the last few hours when the news broke out. “This is the beginning of the end of the stigmatisation of Nigeria and everything Nigerian. God bless you always. From my sincere heart, I have come to appreciate your nationalistic tendencies,” the letter added.
Onyema said the Minister, by his conduct and commitment, had ensured that the aviation industry was unencumbered, noting that Sirika facilitated the customs duty waiver on aircraft and spare parts and currently working on the unification of charges paid by domestic airlines.
The Air Peace Chairman also commended the Minister for his overall commitment to the aviation industry, from his efforts towards restoring infrastructure at the airports to his intervention in labour issues, adding that the minister had done much to protect domestic airlines by spearheading earlier the policy that only Nigerian carriers should engage in evacuation conducted by the federal government.
