Mr. Babatunde Adeniji, Executive Director of General Sales and Solution Management (GSSM), challenges the belief that establishing a national flag carrier will solve Nigeria’s airline sector struggles.
- In an interview, Adeniji, an aviation management consultant, argues that the issues facing Nigerian airlines are rooted in structural problems within the industry, not merely the absence of a national carrier.
- He emphasizes that the complexities of the aviation ecosystem extend beyond airline operators, advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the entire aviation value chain, involving manufacturers, suppliers, fuel providers, and regulators like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
- Adeniji points out that airlines often occupy the weakest position in this value chain, lacking bargaining power over suppliers and customers.
- He notes that while private airlines struggle to cover costs, government-owned entities, such as the defunct Nigeria Airways, have also failed to perform despite receiving government support.
- He criticizes the lack of corporate governance within government agencies overseeing aviation.
