FAAN 5% Safety Money: Ojikutu Tell Reps Make Dem Collect Am Before Airport Safety Go Become “Prayer Point”

Former General Secretary of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Group Captain John Ojikutu, don call on House of Representatives make dem compel Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to contribute five per cent of the money wey e dey make from airport commercial activities into one common fund for aviation safety agencies.

The proposal dey come at a time wey debate about how Nigeria aviation agencies suppose share and fund their operations don become hot topic. Recent discussions for the National Assembly around the existing five per cent Ticket Sales Charge don already expose serious disagreement about how aviation safety and air-navigation agencies suppose get enough money to do their work.

FAAN Should Contribute As Safety No Be Luxury Wey Government Fit Remember Only When Plane Wan Fly

According to Ojikutu, the idea na to make the money wey aviation generates help support the agencies responsible for safety, regulation and other critical services. The argument get particular weight because aviation agencies need steady funding for personnel, equipment, maintenance, inspections and other operational responsibilities. Recent industry debates similarly stress say inadequate funding fit affect safety oversight.

The funny part be say, for Nigeria, five per cent don already become aviation mathematics wey everybody dey calculate with serious face. The existing Ticket Sales Charge has been at the centre of long-running arguments involving airlines, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other stakeholders. So Ojikutu’s proposal dey open another chapter: if airport commercial earnings dey generate money, should part of am also enter the safety purse?

FAAN Support As Aviation Safety Still Need Strong Funding

FAAN itself operates airports and generates revenue through different sources, including passenger-related charges, landing fees, parking, rents, concession fees and other commercial activities. Historical reporting has also highlighted concerns about whether enough revenue is being channelled into airport maintenance and infrastructure.

Ojikutu’s position therefore dey land inside one bigger aviation question: who suppose pay for the expensive business of keeping aircraft, airports and airspace safe? For one side, airlines don complain about the burden of multiple taxes and charges; for another side, safety agencies need reliable money to carry out their statutory responsibilities. The latest debate over the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge shows say government and industry stakeholders never finish this financial argument.

Whether the House go accept Ojikutu proposal or send am into the famous Nigerian legislative “we go look into am” department, na something aviation stakeholders go dey watch. One thing remain clear: aviation safety no suppose depend on last-minute funding, and OGM News Pidgin go continue to monitor the money matter as lawmakers and aviation authorities decide who go pay, who go collect and, most importantly, who go make sure the passengers remain safe.