Federal Government pledges to protect local airlines.

The Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has said that the Federal Government would do everything to protect the local operators in Aviation sector.

Chidoka gave the assurance when the management of Arik Airlines paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The minister while appreciating the visit of the Arik management said the concerns raised by the company are traceable to global conspiracy by the developed world to make sure that the developing countries remain constrained.

He said it was not a Nigerian Conspiracy against the local airlines and that it affects other sectors.

The minister, however, assured the visitors that the government would do all it can to improve local operations.

“The good thing is that those of us who know about this Global Conspiracy will do everything to protect the local operations in the Aviation industry,” he stated.

The minister, however, advised the local operators to improve their services to meet with global standards.

“You have to make a transition; you cannot run your business as if you are running it for only Nigerians. Go global in your operations because we are used to global services,” he advised.

He said a lot of things needed to be done to improve the internal operational systems in the local industry to be able to compete with the global system.

Chidoka added that the government wants to create a safe and secured airports and that the partnership of the local operators is necessary for this to be achieved.

He said: “I am ideologically attuned to local industries, we are ready to ideologically make a shift to partner with the local operators to grow their businesses; we are going to be partners in progress in the interest of the passengers; we are looking forward to a Nigerian Company that will take the bull by the horns and I know that Arik is up to it”.

In response, Sir Johnson who led the Arik delegation commended the minister while also appealing to him to create time to visit Arik office for official inspection of services.

DAILY INDEPENDENT