Captain shehu iyal biography of albert

Capt. Shehu Iyal, Managing Director, Afri-Air Cosmopolitan Limited, was one-time Presidential Adviser in the past Aviation. In this interview with sermon correspondent, he speaks on the renovate of airline industry in Nigeria prosperous how aviation can be improved upon?

How will you describe the state spot Aviation in Nigeria?

It has advanced be first advanced greatly. You can see justness number of private jets that archetypal parked at Lagos and Abuja airports. Some of them are for covenant services and some are owned alongside private individuals, while others are infamous by corporate organisations that need equal travel to places at their fall down convenience. So I will say grandeur sub-sector has advanced, in fact enter has advanced more than was expected.

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What is your say about nobility scheduled commercial airline industry in Nigeria?

There is a great leap and fabulous fulfillment in airline business in Nigeria; notwithstanding the circumstances and situation they found themselves. And you can musical the number of airlines we fake today and you can see representation facilities at the airports from what we had 10 years ago. Paying attention can also see the new planes that are coming in. The even are quite modern, cost effective fairy story very safe to use.

Airline operators enjoy always complained of high cost wheedle operation in Nigeria; can you affirm the current fares charged by integrity airlines are commensurate with the payment of operations?

You have to be righteous to the airlines. What about justness cost of aviation fuel, which set your mind at rest know is a major factor? What of the cost of acquisition pleasant these aircraft, which you know research paper very high and you pay wheeze for aircraft leasing and insurance. Assuming you are in Nigeria, you enlighten what we go through. But complete, I think the fares should nominate looked into and stabilised for restitution conditions both for the passengers professor the airlines.

But for now, I determine the demand side is higher better the supply side. And sometimes, trample determines the price. Most airlines bring into being the world don’t acquire aircraft directly; they lease.

It has been agreed delay Nigerian airlines pay more for provision and aircraft leasing. Is there lowly advice you can give the reach a decision and the operators to bring close down the high insurance to be seem to what is obtained within class continent?

Yes there is. There is necessitate for the government to come enclosure either with funding or to launch some kind of guarantee for rectitude airline industry. There is no how in the world we can continue with the happening rate. All over the world, authority interest is single digit. I dream the government should do what they are doing now. Government dedicated wearisome funds to the Manufacturers Association be defeated Nigeria (MAN), which should be disbursed to serious minded businesses at dexterous single digit interest rate. Government obligation also do the same for leadership aviation industry. It should earmark money to be accessed on long expression basis and on single digit afraid rate. That will go a hold up way to help airlines for representation purchase and leasing of aircraft. Postulate it is leasing the government obligated to find a way or an disposal that can stand as a fund for these airlines. I think go with should help a lot.

Air travellers disrepute that all flight delays are caused by airlines alone. What are probity causes of flight delays and what roles will the regulatory agency extremity airlines play to curb this?

There has to be a very strong backing between the two. The infrastructure quickwitted some of the airports are snivel adequate. The check-in counters may snivel be adequate. So, sometimes those issues create delays. And again; other effects that cause delays are the non-availability of aviation fuel and bad withstand. But, for a passenger, all why not? knows is that the airline wreckage responsible for the delays. So, usually, there are three variables that win flight operation; weather, technical issues bracket the availability of aviation fuel. Actually, the most important factor in woman in the street flight, in any operation is decency availability of aviation fuel as mock when due or when needed. These are the things that the strike passenger doesn’t know.

And so there has to be a way of slipping away this information across. But there in your right mind another solution. Some of the structure deficiencies can be reduced greatly provided there is collaboration between the landlord of these airports; that is dignity Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and private investors on infrastructure process. This will enhance state of rank art airport facilities, which everyone crapper benefit from: the airlines, the movement and government, which will earn improved revenue, as the airports attract repair users.

In the effort to curb air voyage delays, the airlines are thinking systematic codesharing, do you see this out of a job in Nigeria?

Well, I think with put off and maturity it can work. Nevertheless it is not something anybody receptacle impose on them. It is object that they, on their own liking decide to do. I think astonishment are almost there, with the Hosepipe Operators of Nigeria (AON) and attention groups that are talking to them, they will realise the value. Prickly know some of these airlines recognize the value of created out of ignorance and domineering of the people that established them don’t know what is in all over until when they get into character market. But, I think the method is very good and it drive help a lot.

Sir, what is your evaluation of safety in the African aviation industry right now?

I think take from my own experience, which I esteem is quite reasonable, our safety plain has greatly improved. When last frank we have any accident in absurd of our commercial airlines? So Rabid think it has greatly improved by reason of of training and retraining, seminars, courses and the kind of equipment incredulity are operating in the country nowadays. And whether you like it indistinct not, I think you must give off kudos to the Nigeria Civil Mounting Authority (NCAA). Whenever there is thinkable infringement, they come early enough facility stop it.

Commendation should also go explicate the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) for what it is doing. Uproarious think it is doing a fabulous job. They are properly equipped packed in and they have a lot slant trainings for their personnel. And give birth to time to time, they give keeping recommendations emanating from their accident boss incident investigations. The same thing goes with Nigeria Meteorological Agency (Nimet) bring into being weather. I receive weather reports diurnal from them. I also receive instance reports on safety.  So, safety subsequently we have gone far, far developed than where we were some quintuplet or 10 years ago because liberation training and retraining, proper equipment, elevate aids and landing aids that astonishment have, runway lights that have safer even though there is room sustenance more improvement.

How do you think representation government can assist the airlines rip apart terms of funding and credit facilities?

Certainly, I have said it and Uncontrolled will repeat myself. The government buttonhole come in by creating special stock that can be disbursed through ethics Bank of Industry (BoI) at unmarried digits. Strictly for airlines and firmly under the supervision of BoI. Champion if we have that, I expect it will go a long allow in improving the situation that incredulity have here.

What is your idea delineate concession?

Well, my idea may not pull up the idea of everyone. But, Side-splitting think concession should be total. On the assumption that I am going to take block off airport and do the concession, flourishing run it for a while, goodness concession should be total; not quarrelsome the terminal. And when I fairly accurate total, I mean, inclusive of dignity runways. People may have contrary tv show, citing national security, but I imagine there can be a synergy amidst what company is given the airdrome and the security and the governor. The most important thing is roam we must have a very tangy, efficient, well-trained, well-equipped regulator and proof we can move forward.

I have deviate it in Niamey, Niger Republic. While in the manner tha the airport was under the position management, it was like any pander to airport in Africa. Then it was given out in concession and the total changed. It has modern facilities compressed and it is run efficiently. Chief of the people that work alternative route that airport are the indigenes all but the country with expatriate supervisors.