The Airlines Operators of Nigeria, which disclosed this in a
statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, said the government
had been prompt in responding to the request made by the association.
Onyema, explained that the Senate Committee on Aviation held
an interactive meeting with all the aviation agencies in Nigeria led by the
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
He said all the Nigerian airlines represented by the AON
leadership had made presentation to the government.
According to the statement, Onyema noted that the
presentation made by the AON to the senate committee had yielded a positive
response from the government and support from the Nigeria Customs Service.
Onyema said, “The meeting was called by the Senate to
discuss the reasons for the recent upsurge in flight delays and flight
cancellations amongst other issues and challenges facing the aviation industry.
“It was on this occasion that AON made its presentation of
challenges facing all the airlines. Our member airlines were present but we
made an articulated collective presentation to the Senate, which I read as the
vice president on behalf of the association.
It was on this occasion that the AON presented the issue of
the partial implementation of the Finance Act 2020 which prohibits the payment
of duties and Value Added Tax on imported aircraft and aircraft spares by the
Customs Service.
“Of note was the presence of a seven per cent surcharge on
the assessed duties which was not supposed to be. This caused delays in the
clearance of aircraft and aircraft spares leading to grounding of aircraft that
would have been flying.”
He noted that after the senate meeting, the Minister of
Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and Sirika were contacted by the airlines on the
challenges.
The AON noted that since 7th July, airlines have been
clearing their aircraft spares without having to pay a seven per cent
surcharge.
Onyema said, “AON, for the avoidance of doubt, commends the
Federal Government for its unflinching support for the growth of indigenous
investments in Nigeria.
“This was very evident in the manner the government got this
challenge addressed immediately within 48 hours to the joy of the airlines.
“We equally commend the Nigerian Customs Service for also assisting
the airlines, including but not limited to Air Peace, which was used as an
example, in getting their aircraft spares and aircraft released.”
He added that the planes so far cleared had started flying.
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