Handling Rates: House Aviation Committee Commits To Protecting Nigeria’s Business Entities

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation says it “would continue to protect the interest of Nigeria and business entities operating in the country.”
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, who stated this at a meeting with the representatives of the Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria (AGHAN), Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Airline Operators Committee (AOC), International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and NCAA in Abuja yesterday, said the committee would hold a closed door meeting with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the new safety threshold handling rates for indigenous and international carriers. He said the meeting with the regulatory agency was necessary because of the importance of the new handling rates.
He said: ”The meeting with the Director-General of NCAA is important because we believe his input is necessary for us to take a decision. The issue at hand is very important for the growth of the Nigerian civil aviation industry.
”Whatever we are going to come out with as a committee will be for the good of the industry.”
However, no new date has been fixed for continuation of hearing on the matter, but Nnaji assured that the committee would reconvene soon.
Recalled that the House Committee on Aviation had last week, adjourned meeting for this Wednesday on the new safety threshold handling rates for ground handling companies in Nigeria.
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation led by Nnaji had advised that the new aircraft ground handling rate of $3900 be temporarily be put on hold till after the next meeting with the stakeholders. AON and AOC had earlier petitioned the committee for its intervention over the new rate. NCAA Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu was said to be out of the country to attend in person.