Federal Government cannot achieve its ambitious $1 trillion economy without the development of the country’s aviation industry, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said.

Speaking yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, during the inaugural flight of United Nigeria to Accra, Ghana, from Abuja, Okonkwo stated that the country’s airlines require the government’s support to sustain their operations.

According to Okonkwo, the continuous granting of loans to indigenous airlines at double-digit interest rates was inhibiting the carriers from competing with their counterparts worldwide.

Okonkwo described the aviation industry as a catalyst for economic development and could only thrive with the support of the government. The United Nigeria Airlines boss added that the presence of Nigerian airlines in regional and international routes would save the country from capital flight and reduce pressure on the naira.

Okonkwo, however, lauded the current administration for developing positive policies that aided the growth of the airlines, stressing that without these policies, the original flight to Accra would not have been possible.

Also, the Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Ahmed, in his comment, congratulated United Nigeria for choosing Accra as its first regional destination.

Ahmed explained that the commencement of the flight had enhanced competition on the route, adding that it would give the flying public more choices between the two countries.

The Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, encouraged Nigerians to patronise indigenous airlines. He also called for collaboration and cooperation among the country’s carriers, saying that it would lead to more productive and increased revenue generation.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Kana, reiterated that the government would continue to support indigenous businesses, including airlines.

He emphasised that most of the requests of the operators were being attended to by the government and assured that the government’s policies would be geared towards growing domestic investors.