Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has disclosed that it is working with the management of Nigeria Customs Service to establish Aviation Desk for better understanding of the sector.
AON said this would enable Customs to understand the importance of air travel and the urgency to clear aircraft spares, especially when under AOG (aircraft on ground).
Vice President of AON, Allen Onyema, during a recent meeting of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) in Lagos, said for easy clearance of aircraft spares and other related imports by the Nigeria Customs Service, “one of us, Captain Roland Iyayi spearheaded a move that AON should work with Customs so that they would have aviation desk.
“We suggested this to the leadership of Customs and they agreed. They are disposed to doing that with us, in establishing an aviation desk where some of their personnel will be trained, specifically to deal with airlines.
“This is important because, currently, many of the officials do not understand how aviation works. Like, what is AOG? So, an airline’s aircraft spare parts might come and it might remain there for three weeks because they do not understand the urgency of clearing it so that the aircraft would return to work,” Onyema said.
He said in other climes, once any aircraft spare part is brought in under AOG, Customs would allow it to be cleared immediately and later the airline would deal with the processes.
“This is because the aircraft is treated like a human being; it needs to fly due to the critical role it plays in the economy of any nation. But over here it is not the same thing. So, we need to expedite clearance of spares or aircraft from Customs. The ease of doing business should be improved. It is not only with Customs, but everywhere. This will enhance the support Nigerian airlines need to be stronger,” the AON Vice President said.
