In a meeting held on Monday, domestic airlines, operating under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), urged the Federal Government to permit AON to obtain the necessary license for importing and distributing JetA1 aviation fuel.

They called for the establishment of a dedicated support line for domestic carriers to access foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), aiming to meet their commitments to air travelers.

These requests were voiced during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, at his office in Abuja.

Abdulmunaf Yunusa, President of AON, clarified that the purpose of the visit was to inform the minister about the challenges facing the aviation sector and offer potential solutions. Furthermore, they congratulated Minister Keyamo on his recent appointment.

During the meeting, AON presented their concerns to the minister, with Capt. Roland Iyayi, CEO of Top Brass Aviation, highlighting the urgent need for a consistent supply of aviation fuel within the industry.

He emphasized, “There is an urgent need to facilitate the liberalization, procurement, and distribution of JetA1 nationwide and allow AON to procure the requisite license for product importation and distribution.”

He also called for a comprehensive review of industry taxes, fees, and charges to ensure they align with the cost recovery model.

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Iyayi pointed out that airline operators, as end users, should be granted permission to participate in the aviation fuel market by sourcing and distributing the product. This request, he noted, has been previously denied to AON.

In addition to fuel supply concerns, Iyayi also addressed the issue of foreign exchange, which has become a significant challenge for airline operators.

He urged the Federal Government to establish a dedicated support line to provide domestic airline operators with unhindered access to foreign exchange through the CBN at the official I & E window, for both local and international transactions.

Minister Keyamo acknowledged the persisting forex challenge and assured his guests that the Ministry of Aviation would collaborate with the CBN to explore possibilities for operators to access foreign exchange at a single-digit interest rate, as requested.

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring airline safety, underscoring its pivotal role in the success of the aviation industry.