Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said that there is no immediate solution to the crisis rocking the aviation sector of the country.
Speaking during an emergency meeting with the Airline Operators Association of Nigeria (AON) in Abuja on Tuesday, July 26, Sirika said the variables impacting the crises in the aviation sector are beyond the industry’s control.
Pointing out that the situation was further compounded by the lingering scarcity of foreign exchange because the source of earning forex has dwindled, the Minister stated that there is no short-term solution because of the challenges which he claimed is a global problem.
He said; “There is no immediate solution. The energy crisis is real and it is global. Today there are aviation fuel problems all over the world. From America to New Zealand. It is aggravating in Nigeria because we don’t produce the product.
“As we speak, the government is in the process of finding a permanent solution to this issue”
Sirika added that some of the solutions being considered include “importation of the product at an appropriate price, accelerating the refurbishment of our refineries and also waiting for the coming on stream of Dangote Refinery to boost the supply of the product.”
However, according to the Minister of Aviation, the solution cannot take place anytime soon.
“So when you ask how soon, I wouldn’t know when Dangote will come on stream, I wouldn’t know how soon the refineries will be filled. I wouldn’t know when imports would become sufficient. But the government is working towards all these to happen.”
Mr Sirika said he will be meeting with relevant stakeholders including the Central Bank of Nigeria to see how the airlines can access dollars at the official market rate rather than the black market rate.
Comments