National Assembly Wades Into Aviation Industry Crisis

Lawmakers at the National Assembly have held separate sessions over the proposed concessioning of four airports by the Nigerian government.

Thursday’s proceedings at the House of Representatives public hearing was centred on how to rescue the aviation industry from the imminent collapse.

The legislators at the lower house deliberated on the planned concession of some airports and some past agreements which have degenerated into a legal tussle.

Some stakeholders in the sector such as the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Wale Babalakin and the Deputy General Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Monica Alphonse, made presentations to a committee of lawmakers over the matter.

The committee also heard from the Deputy Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Onyinye Ahuchogu, on the issue of foreign exchange for the aviation sector.

They consequently directed the CBN to put a special exchange rate in place for the sector.

The committee hinted that it would present the recommendations to the leadership of the House at the end of the public hearing.

Meanwhile, the Senate has resolved to support the steps being taken by the Federal Government to intervene in the current challenges being faced by the industry.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by a member of the Senate from Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye.

Senator Melaye expressed concern over the emerging challenges facing the aviation sector as a result of the current economic downturn.