CHUKS OKOH,
National President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Ben Nnabue, has called for a strategic overhaul of the country’s aviation sector, declaring that while the industry has survived over the decades, it has yet to thrive as a globally competitive hub.
Extending warm greetings to Nigerian aviation workers and the nation at large on the 65th Independence Day, Comrade Nnabue reflected on the trajectory of the nation’s aviation sector from its pre-independence roots to its current state.
”As Nigeria reflects on 65 years since independence in 1960, the aviation sector presents a narrative of undeniable expansion paired with structural underperformance,” Nnabue stated.
He noted that aviation predates Nigeria’s independence, pointing to the establishment of Nigeria Airways in 1958 as a symbol of national pride that laid the foundation for the country to become Africa’s aviation hub.
Recalling the glory years of the 1970s and 1980s when the national carrier “flew the green-white-green across continents” and Nigerian airports served as West Africa’s beacons, the NUATE President acknowledged the deep impact of the airline’s eventual decline. “The liquidation of Nigeria Airways in 2003 left a vacuum that exposed our market to foreign dominance and capital flight,” he remarked.
He praised the resilience of Nigerian aviation workers across both public sector agencies and private airlines, such as Value Jet, Ibom Air, Green Africa, Umza Air, Rano Air, Enugu Air, Air Peace, Arik, and United Nigeria for keeping the nation’s skies active despite historic challenges.
Highlighting the current status of the industry, Nnabue observed that Nigeria ranks second in Africa for domestic air traffic and remains the largest aviation market in West Africa.
He commended the sector’s skilled workforce, including pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin crew, aviation security (Avsec), firefighters, ground handlers, and safety inspectors for maintaining safety oversight.
Nnabue also acknowledged recent regulatory advancements, including Nigeria’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety audit score rising from 49.5% to 75.5% and its Cape Town Convention compliance score climbing from 49 to 70.5%, attributing these gains to worker professionalism.
However, Nnabue stressed that significant gaps remain. “We must tell ourselves the truth: the average Nigerian has not yet felt the full promise of a sovereign aviation industry,” he declared. “We have built airports across the country, but we have built more infrastructure than operational efficiency. No Nigerian carrier is in Africa’s Top 10, none of our five international airports has been fully certified to ICAO standards which cost us points in the last audit and our on-time performance falls far below ICAO benchmarks. In short, we have survived as a nation in aviation, but we have not yet thrived.”
To compete with international transit hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, and Kigali, Comrade Nnabue asserted that Nigeria must transition from consuming aviation services to manufacturing, maintaining, and strategically leading.
Speaking on behalf of the aviation workforce, he outlined seven critical areas for immediate reform.
On Human Capital Investment and Workforce Protection, Nnabue warned against the drain of skilled engineers, pilots, firefighters, and ground handlers to the Middle East and Asia.
He condemned poor service conditions, casualization, and the victimization of workers joining unions in private airlines, calling for continuous professional training, fair labor practices, competitive remuneration, and strict adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Regarding Infrastructure Modernization and Airport Certification, he urged the immediate upgrade and full ICAO certification of international gateways in Lagos (LOS), Abuja (ABV), Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. Recommended upgrades include navigational aids, runways, taxiways, aprons, night-landing equipment, baggage handling systems, and inter-terminal transport to ensure these facilities function as seamless transit hubs.
Addressing the Establishment of Local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities, Nnabue expressed concern over the $1 billion spent annually on C-checks and heavy maintenance overseas.
Nnabue advocated for a functional, world-class MRO hub in Nigeria to conserve foreign exchange, lower airfares, and establish the nation as a regional technical hub for West and Central Africa.
To achieve Centralized Revenue Automation and Financial Transparency, Nnabue proposed automated, real-time split-deductions via a central electronic wallet system at the point of ticket sale. This measure aims to eliminate ongoing disputes over Ticket Sales Charges (TSC), Passengers Service Charge (PSC), and Cargo Sales Charges (CSC). He also called for a review of the 50% Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) deduction from aviation agencies, emphasizing that “aviation money must work for aviation safety.”
On Creating an Enabling Environment for Local Airlines and BASA Reciprocity, Nnabue urged the Federal Government to use diplomatic leverage under Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) to support local carriers facing protectionist barriers abroad. He added that access to single-digit financing, dry-leasing options, locally refined Jet A1 fuel, and relief from multiple taxation are necessary to ensure domestic airlines remain viable.
In terms of Policy Consistency and Proper Governance, he criticized frequent policy reversals and demanded the formal inauguration of governing boards for all aviation agencies.
He noted that any national carrier strategy must respect labor laws, protect jobs, and complement existing operators rather than being built on the graves of existing workers and airlines.
Finally, on Industrial Harmony, the NUATE leader stressed that government and private operators must respect agreements with aviation unions, noting that full compliance with collective bargaining agreements is essential because “a motivated workforce is a safe workforce.”
In his concluding remarks, Comrade Nnabue pointed out that Nigeria possesses unmatched market size, geographical positioning, and manpower within Africa, but lacks the sustained political will to prioritize workers, safety, and long-term planning over short-term revenue.
”On this Independence Day, our message is simple: Let us make Nigerian aviation truly independent—safe, globally competitive, and dignifying for those who keep it flying,” Nnabue stated, reaffirming NUATE’s commitment to collaborating with the Federal Government to build a robust aviation sector for all Nigerians.
