74 | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | Issue 11shop on the implementation of SAATM,
the President of AON, Captain Nogie
Meggison was highly critical: “We must
put Nigeria first. What advantages does
Nigeria stand to gain if we open the skies?
Do we (Nigerians) have visas to travel
around Africa before we open the skies?”
He said some African states target Niger-
ian airlines by charging them outrageous
levies when they operate to those coun-
tries. Citing high interest rates levied
against private Nigerian airlines compared
to other government owned airlines, he
intimated that the playing ground was
not level, citing that “over 50 Nigerians
airlines had collapsed in the past”. Other
countries’ airlines enjoy some protection-
ism, lower interest rates on loans, and
waivers on import duty for aircraft and
spares, he said.Plane Talking’s Linden Birns: “In other
cases, the absence of political will have
been based on preserving narrow, short-
term advantages and rivalry between
states. For all of the positive talk and good
intentions behind SAATM, Africa remains
the most conflicted continent on the
planet. Contrary to how people in other
parts of the world might view Africa, it is
not a homogenous conglomerate. It is a
diverse collection of states with complex
relationships and histories. It remains to
be seen just how the AU intends to live up
to its name and ‘unite’ them.”
“What all African countries do have in
common is the desire to grow their
economies, educate, skill and employ their
citizens and create a more prosperous and
better life for them. This socio-economic
imperative is becoming recognised and
appreciated by an increasing number of
African governments.”
Despite impending criticism and reluc-
tance by some African nations to join
SAATM just yet, it is a positive sign of the
evolving maturity of the African airspace- albeit moving at a snail’s pace.
Chris Zweigenthal says: “The SAATM is a
natural progression for African aviation
We must put Nigeria first.
What advantages does
Nigeria stand to gain if we
open the skies? Do we (Nigerians) have
visas to travel around Africa before we
open the skies? Over 50 Nigerians
airlines had collapsed in the past. Other
countries’ airlines enjoy some
protectionism, lower interest rates on
loans, and waivers on import duty for
aircraft and spares- Captain Nogie Meggison,
President, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)