Aviation Expert Explains How Dual Tariffs Buoy Nigeria’s Rip Off By Foreign Carriers

The former past Managing Director of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Oluropo Owolabi has held the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, responsible for the bad treatment Nigerian airlines and the two ground handling companies in the sector receive in the hands of foreign carriers.

The aviation expert specifically said that the regulatory body approved different tariffs for it and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc, a situation, which he said was negatively affecting the economy of the country.

Owolabi stressed that this practice had made the foreign carriers to take the ground handling companies for a ride while capital flight increases, stressing that SAHCOL had made attempts in the past to ensure that NCAA called the two ground handlers together for a meeting, but all to no avail.

He explained that despite the fact that foreign carriers increased airfares arbitrarily, ground handling companies were not allowed to do this and called on NCAA to address the issue before it got out of hand.

“I see no reason why NCAA should approve NACHO for a tariff separately. It is a tripartite agreement. I expected NCAA to call us together. By and large, if you look at it, it is the foreign exchange we are losing. Tickets fares are raised every time by the foreign airlines yet they don’t want you to increase your tariff. If you try to do so they threaten that they would go to other handler.