afrol News, 19 February - The N10 billion government bailout for aviation industry in Nigeria has reached a stumbling block following a disagreement by two main local airline operators, the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Tanimu Yakubu, has said.

Mr Yakubu said the bailout package, which is in the form of tax holiday, low interest loans and other incentives, could not be captured in the supplementary budget last year as operators could not agree on a common ground in their presentation to government.

“It is a disappointment that after three months of consultations, the operators could not approach government with substantial position paper,” he said.

Nigerian Federal Government had, in last October, requested for a comprehensive document showing all the needs of operators that require urgent government intervention; but the industry players failed to harmonise their position.

The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Shehu Iyal, later set up a committee, madem up of airline owners, towards the creation of a position paper that was to submit its report yesterday.

While some of the operators are not comfortable with the Federal Government’s direct bailout of the troubled aviation industry in the country, the other group appears favourably disposed to the idea, according to local news reports.

Local industry has been hard hit by the global financial crisis.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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