Business
Forex: Group Wants Quick Implementation Of Concession To Airlines
The Aviation Round Table
(ART) has called for quick implementation of the special sectoral Foreign Exchange (Forex) allocation in the Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) for airline operators.
The President of ART, Mr Gbenga Olowo, made the call while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Lagos.
Our source report that the forex concession was recently granted to the airlines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as an intervention in the inter-bank forex market, through forward settlement.
Olowo said the move was a positive development for the foreign airlines because they would be able to repatriate their funds.
According to him, the availability of forex at the inter-bank exchange rate will also ease domestic carriers’ access to forex, which is critical to their operations.
“So, it is very positive, but I hope it is available. There was a time that they said duty of spares was removed and it was on paper, but it never happened until recently.
“This announcement will have no effect until the airlines begin to enjoy the forex concession.
“What we are saying is that there should be quick implementation and that it should not just be a policy statement,” he said.
Speaking similarly, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Managing Director, Med-View Airline, said it was crucial for the government to open the channel where airlines could have access to forex.
“Everything we do in this industry is paid for in dollars. Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul and D-Check; these cost millions of dollars.
“Also, you have to pay for insurance and some of the aircraft are on dry lease which are also paid for in dollars.
“But for now, there is nothing on the table. We are praying it will materialise soon. We expect the Federal Government through the CBN to start rolling out the guidelines,” Bankole said.