Since her assumption of office as the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah-Ogienwonyi has taken some bold steps that have been viewed differently by aviation experts and other stakeholders in the aviation industry. But the one that has continued to generate so much controversy is the imbalance in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

The Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Johnson Arumeni-Ikhide had cried foul in his petition to the Presidency and the National Assembly, alleging that his airline had been denied the required number of slots on Abuja-London Heathrow route in line with the BASA.

He explained that the Arik Air, Nigeria’s flag carrier was granted 12 weekly frequencies as against 21 weekly frequencies being enjoyed by the British Airways as enshrined in the BASA, leaving the Nigerian carriers with a shortfall of nine frequencies.

Irked by this development that has lingered for too long the federal government decided to wield the sledge hammer by restricting British Airways to three weekly flights on Lagos – London route.

But the British Airways has argued that BASA is a deal between two countries and it is not a party to such agreement. One salient aspect of BASA is reciprocity as some experts have stated. The question therefore is, has there been fare deal on the part of the British government.

According to some stakeholders in the aviation industry what Arik is passing through is informed by the demise of Nigeria Airways. For a long time after the liquidation of  the Nigeria Airways there was no Nigerian airline that operated on the busy London route. They argued that the protracted absence of the Nigerian Carrier affected the allocation of slots as specified in the BASA.

But the Minister of Aviation has maintained that the air pact between the two countries must be reviewed. Speaking through her Special Assistant  (Media), Joe Obi, she said “as controversy surrounding the reduction of British Airway’s slots into the Murtala Mohammed International Airport rages on, it has become imperative to make certain clarifications as issues are being muddled up for various reasons, some certainly bordering on selfish interest and agenda of those making the insinuations.

“While the Minister of Aviation maintains that Arik Air, a Nigerian flag Carrier has not been fairly treated by the sudden denial of slots from Abuja into London Heathrow, the main issue at stake here is not about Arik Air, but about the need to respect the spirit and the letter of BASA, which is predicated on the principles of equity, fairness and reciprocity.

“Those who argue that the fate of Arik with the regard to the loss of its slots into London Heathrow was a consequence of purely independent, commercial decisions by ACL, which is in charge of slot allocation into Heathrow are missing the point, if not entirely mischievous. The British authorities are under obligation as far as BA is concerned to ensure whatever independent and commercial decisions are taken by its corporate citizens do not infringe on bilateral agreements.

As a fall-out of the negotiations between the two countries over the issues arising from the imbalance in the BASA the federal government last week rejected the 20 per cent fare reduction offered by the British Airways.

In a statement issued to journalists on this matter, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. Joe Obi said government considered the offer as insufficient as other West African countries were said to be paying less to travel the same distance to the United Kingdom.

“With respect to the high fare charged by the British Airways and the associated regional imbalance, the airline made an offer of a 20 per cent reduction in the lowest business class fare.

“The Nigerian side considered this as insufficient. The Nigerian government is still very concerned about the regional price disparity. We believe that this regional imbalance should be dismantled. In other words, BA should offer the same and similar fares from Nigeria to the UK as it is the case in any equivalent distance within West Africa.

He noted that the British authorities had assured to carry out independent study of air fares in the region to decide on the next offer.

Obi also disclosed that Arik Air had been granted seven slots weekly on the Abuja – London Heathrow route at prevailing commercial rates.

In less than five months in office the Minister of Aviation has shown that she is committed to repositioning the aviation sector as she did promise. Naturally, we do not expect every Nigerian to applaud all her policies and programmes. But what is more important is the result that will be achieved at the end of the day. Without mincing words, the minister deserves the commendation of Nigerians for standing up to the British authorities in the face of obvious disregard of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Aviation is a global business, and international best practices must be observed by stakeholders without let or hindrance.  By her action, the Minister has been able to address the issues of slot allocation to Arik Air which was primarily the bone of contention and the regional price disparity.

The Minister, it appears is on the right track. All she needs now is the support of the stakeholders in the aviation industry and Nigerians in general to implement the transformation agenda of the present administration in the aviation sector.

Reward Akwu