Some passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, has hailed the Federal Government plan to grant airline operators’ zero tariff on importation of aircraft and spare parts. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)?in separate interviews in Lagos on Friday that the policy would boost the nation’s economy and generate employment opportunities.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Oct. 10 at the presentation of the 2013 budget to the National Assembly announced zero tariffs on aircraft importation and spares parts.
Mrs Motunrayo Suleiman, an Abuja bound passenger, told NAN that the policy would enhance safety in the sector. ?
“Airline operators would be able to procure brand new aircraft for their operations and enhance quality service delivery to the passengers,” Suleiman said.
Another passenger, Alhaji Abubakar Ishola, said that the implementation of the zero tariffs would prevent the nation’s airports from serving as `junkyards’ to old and disused aircraft.
“With the airlines acquiring new aircraft, they would be able to provide uninterrupted services as against the flight?cancellations and delays normally experienced by passengers,” Ishola said.
Mr Chimezie Okon said that the policy would create more job opportunities as more operators would want to venture into the aviation sector.
“International airlines would like to enter into an interlining arrangement with the domestic operators to fly their passengers to other parts of the country after arriving at the international terminals.
?“With that, there would be less pressure on the road transportation sector and less road carnage,” Okon said.
Another passenger, Alhaja Simbiat Idris,?urged the Federal Government to complete the remodeling of the airports to attract?prospective investors that would want to invest in the sector. (NAN)