The Federal Government has pledged to formulate policies aimed at boosting the capacities of local airline operators.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), gave the assurance at the 28th edition of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents conference on Friday in Lagos.

He further said that the development of Maintenance Repair Organisation facilities in some parts of the country was a priority of the government.

According to him, MRO development will help in advancing the aviation industry.

Keyamo stated that investors from Europe, Asia, America, and the Middle East were talking with the Federal Government about how to invest in MRO.

Keyamo said that some bilateral air services agreements had not benefitted Nigeria.

He expressed concerns that some carriers would have a choice of Nigeria routes but would give Nigerian airlines second-tier airports in their countries.

“Lufthansa is coming here, but we are not going to Frankfurt. Delta and United are coming from America, but we are not going there. South Africa is coming here with no reciprocity,” he said.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Umar Farouk, while speaking, also said that the agency was proposing an 800 percent increment in navigation fees.

He said that the charges were last reviewed in 2008.

According to him, the review might come into effect by September 1 after due consultations with stakeholders.

Farouk proposed that en-route and terminal navigation charges should be reviewed from N2,000 and N6,000 to N18,000 and N104,000 per flight.

“Additionally, the extension of service hours will be reviewed from N50,000 to N450,000 per extension to enable the agency to recover the cost of diesel and other logistics.”

He said that without funds, the agency could not discharge its safety responsibilities effectively.