FUEL SCARCITY: All Nigerian Airlines Will Stop Operation In Next Three Days – Allen Onyema

Airpeace Chairman, Allen Onyema, has warned that airlines in the country will shut down activities in the next three days over the cost of aviation fuel.

Onyema, who is also  Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria stated this at the National Assembly during a meeting between the Nigerian Airline operators, oil marketers, the regulators and members of the House of Assembly.

Nigerian Airline operators are demanding operational licenses from the federal government to begin importation of fuel, following the recent fuel scarcity across the country.

“We have only three more days, all airlines in Nigeria will shut down. We are not threatening this country, it is a fact.

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 “I have the mandate of all airlines to demand that Airlines begin importation of fuel, if we can buy planes worth millions of dollars, we can also import fuel ourselves. Let NNPC give Airlines licenses, we want to import ourselves, Onyema insisted.

 He continued, “We know the importance of aviation to the economy. Currently, the average price per seat is N70, 000. We have not included the cost of insurance to that.

“All the Insurance companies in this country cannot insure one one aircraft. So, we have to go outside the country to get insurance for our aircraft.

“We cannot continue to subsidise the industry. If we must continue to operate at this rate, then the average cost per ticket will be around N150, 000 and that will not be good for the economy.”