Stakeholders in the aviation sector have in Lagos lauded
President Goodluck Jonathan for announcing that there would be zero tariff on
newly imported aircraft and spare parts.

Jonathan said this during his 2013 budget presentation to
the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The stakeholders, in interviews with our correspondent
described the announcement as a welcome leap for the growth and development of
the sector, the good of the country and the West African sub-region.

The Secretary General, Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON),
Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said, “this is what the AON has been fighting to achieve
for the industry for several years.

.“This shows that the present administration is a listening
one , concerned about the safety and security of its citizens and is thus doing
the right thing.

“Granting zero tariff for the importation of new aircraft
and spare parts is what is obtainable all over the world”.

He recalled that the retired Air Chief Marshal, Paul Dike
Committee set up by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration
after Bellview, Sosoliso and ADC Airlines aircraft crashed, also made similar
recommendations.

“That was what other committees set up after it had also
been recommending as the way forward for the aviation sector”, Tukur said.

.He also commended the Minister of Aviation , Princess
Stella Oduah, for believing and supporting the cause that the AON has been
fighting for and seeing it to reality.

Also, retired Capt. Dele Ore of the Aviation Round Table
(ART), a non-governmental organisation (NGO in the aviation sector, commended
the announcement as part of the successes of ART to national development.

He recalled that ART had over the last 10 years been in the
fore front of the struggle for the actualisation of zero tariff for imported
new aircraft and spare parts.

“We at ART congratulate the president on this noble gesture
because in the 52 years of the existence of the aviation sector in Nigeria,
this is the greatest and most vibrant decision to be taken by any administration,”
Ore said.

He advised the FG to set up a monitoring team that would
ensure that operators do not import fake or substandard aircraft and spare
parts into the country.

“With that, operators would not abuse the policy which I
consider as the first major relief and waiver to be granted by the FG to
improve the growth and development of the sector.

.“ I think that the FG would think of coming up with other
relief measures that would include the establishment of aircraft maintenance
hangars in the country, if this one is not abused,” he said.

Ore, also suggested that the Nigeria Customs Service and the
Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) should be saddled with the responsibility of
ensuring that only genuine aircraft and spare parts were imported into the
country.

.“Through that, both the aircraft operators and passengers
would enjoy the benefits that would accrue from it, such as reduction in
passengers air fares, ” Ore said.

Also,  President, Air
Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Mr Benjamin
Okewu, said that the policy, if well implemented, would bring a new lease of
life to the aviation sector.