Nigerian airlines have commended the federal government for its response in removing 7 per cent surcharge on imported aircraft and spares and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the support it has given to the operators.
Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema made this known as he corrected misconceptions in the sections of the media following proceedings in the interactive forum at the Senate on July 6, 2021, when he made presentation as Vice Chairman AON on behalf of the airlines on the challenges the operators are facing.
According to him, an online medium reported the meeting as an issue concerning Air Peace alone and brought ethnic dimension to an issue that concerns all airlines in the country, a report he condemned.
According to Onyema, after the Senate meeting, the airlines contacted the Minister of Finance and Minister of Aviation on the aforementioned challenges and both Ministers, “as representatives of a responsible government, swung into action immediately.”
Onyema said since the 7th day of July, 2021, airlines have been clearing their aircraft spares and aircraft without having to pay any 7 per cent surcharge.
The target of the sponsors of this falsehood is the Federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari. I personally frown at the ethnic angle presently circulating in the social media that the ‘fulani’ is destroying Air Peace.
He said that contrary to the insinuations that only Air Peace was singled out by Customs to pay those contested surcharges; it was all the airlines that were affected.
The AON Vice Chairman said the present government, in its pursuit for the growth of indigenous airlines helped in getting the Bill removing duties and VAT from imported commercial aircraft and aircraft spares passed while the President wasted no time in giving his assent and signing into law, describing the move as commendable.
