Prof. Obiora Okonkwo is the chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and the spokesman of Airline Operators of Nigeria. He is also a political leader in Anambra State. In this interview with TAIWO ADISA, he speaks on the business environment in 2024, expectations for the New Year and the politics of his home state, Anambra, decrying what he called commercialisation of crime in the state. Excerpts:
How would you rate the business climate as it affects the airline sector in 2024?
What we went through in 2024 was just like having an overdose of the accumulated business environment and the dangers of coming out of COVID-19, the change of government, the money swap era and fuel situation, and so on. So, I would rather say that it was a struggle in 2024. But for us to survive, it was a miracle and I can easily say that if we had survived 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, then we have come to stay. There will never be any weapon fashioned against the airlines that will stand. So, this is just what I can say. Nevertheless, the current minister has also made some bold steps, taking some initiatives that we are hoping that the outcome of it would manifest itself very soon. And knowing fully well what those policies are, I can tell you with all sense of certainty that if all happens as expected, we will be smiling not too long from now. So, we are very hopeful that 2025 will bring us some better tidings.
What are these policy initiatives that you hope would bring such good tidings in 2025?
Well, you know the Airline Operators of Nigeria, in their initial interface with the current minister upon his appointment, had emphasized strongly that ‘if you want to leave a legacy that would go beyond you, there has to be policy, policy, policy’ that would bring other things. And in true compliance with that, he has been trying to break some barriers, that have been obstacles for the airlines. The issue of Capetown Convention, which you know, last year, there was a new practice direction, and then this new practice direction to domesticate that Capetown Convention, because of the violation of it and non-compliance with it in the past have brought about strict, and even embargo on aircraft leasing to Nigeria and that made it very difficult for airline operators to access aircraft, unless you buy. And you know the capital outlay in that. Even when you have to lease, the conditions are so stringent that we pay almost two three times more than they spend in the other parts of the world. So the step the minister has taken in that direction has brought our rating from forty something to seventy, so we are on a high rating now. Yes, it would take a little bit of time to set, but while we are waiting for that to cascade below, the Minister’s approach and initiative and the new confidence he is bringing to the aviation world has led to now another indication from the lessors from all over the world to visit Dublin for the Aviation Finance Conference. That’s where the world leaders in aviation meet themselves. Those who are lessors, investors and all that. So, we hope that we will take this message of our new status to them and then, if at all they will buy it, surely which I think they will do with time, and other actions coming from Mr President, Mr. Minister’s office, we think that, very soon, the lessors will have to be looking at us differently.
Again, because of the Minister’s commitment to the industry, key industry players like Boeing have extended their hands of partnership and then this resulted to an invitation to the minister and the delegation of which I am part of, to visit Boeing in the US, we went to North Carolina, then Louisiana, Washington and others. And in that meeting, certain discussions were held to support the industry in so many areas. And to reach out to other industry players in the finance world to give Nigeria a chance and have another look at us. So, they are quite supportive. And then for us, on the operational aspect, the ease of doing business is beautiful. I can tell you that the new DG of NCAA, having been an operator, a captain for many years, with 27,000 hours of flight which is very rare in the flying world, he has been managing director of an airline and had other managerial positions in an operational environment and then having been a director in the NCAA for a while, so, having been appointed the DG, the combination of all these experiences put him in a position to know where the shoe pinches. So we can now tell with all sense of confidence that the NCAA is a partner in our progress and not an obstacle. So, with all these things combined, I think they have put us in a position of great improvement. These among other things are where my hope lies.
You described year 2024 as a very challenging one, but towards the end of the year, a lot of people watched as airfares skyrocketed and people were of the view that airlines were smiling to banks. How did you then come to the conclusion that the year was a struggle?
Skyrocketing airfare is with corresponding skyrocketing operational expenses. Secondly, it also has to do with the routes. During the festive period, there is a travel pattern that if we have an a aircraft going from Lagos to Owerri in this season, before Christmas and before New Year for instance, if we have the highest capacity aircraft which can accommodate 189 passengers, you might find out that you travel from Lagos to Owerri with full capacity, but on return to Lagos, you might have just five passengers and the same could be from Abuja to Enugu and other routes. In the aviation world, as long the aircraft is in the air, it costs you almost the same amount whether you have passengers or not. So, for you to be able to make that trip, you must have to charge reasonably what can also cover the cost of return.
Sometimes last year, you spoke about Governor Soludo not being the solution to Anambra’s problems is the situation changing with your recent visit to the East?
Unfortunately, it is not. Anambra remains the kidnapping capital of the South and it is getting worst. It is more worrisome when the governor is doing nothing about it otherwise, one would not have seen any reason why, after three years in office, you held a news conference in December and announced that you will be setting up a security outfit in February. Have you ever seen any insensitivity of that magnitude?. He is just politicizing everything. From the intels available to me, event, there is so much insincerity in that his so-called proposed security outfit. It is rather a political platform, you know we do face what they call unknown gunmen. But I can tell you that people are concerned that what Soludo is coming up with is ‘known gunmen,’ where there will be political thugs under the disguise of government security because this would have started from strengthening the security agencies but there is none. He said he is setting up his own and even named it after himself, (he abbreviated his name) and called it ‘Udogachi’, meaning Udo will reign. He removed the word ‘Udo’ from his name. If you complete it, it is Soludogachi and what this simply means is Soludo will return again. So, it is a second-term platform for politics and really sad that lives are being wasted. There is no corner of Anambra state that is safe from this calamity, even in front of Government House. If you recall, the last killing of 15 innocent people, it was less than a kilometre away from the Government House and in his own wisdom, while visiting that scene, which he rarely does, he used it also for politics, going to the market to buy akara and all that, not even visiting the homes of the victims. So, such level of insensitivity is condemnable.
You are of the view that the Anambra people have rejected the incumbent, what if he crosses to the APC, so as to enjoy this thing called federal might?
It is late for him to cross to APC because he has his own dead APGA in his hands and he is stuck with it. His only hope is to want to hide under the traditional deceitful promise that APGA is not a threat to the presidential candidate of the APC and whether the APC in Abuja will let them hold Anambra under APGA. But Anambra is tired of single-state government and that is what has deprived the state of the benefits of federal system. Besides, Tinubu is a politician and tactician. He and the APC leaders know that APGA is dead, they may not want to inherit the dead body of APGA. More importantly, you can never see with somebody’s eyes. Supporting Soludo is inheriting his enemies and the head and then plucking off their eyes to give him to see, and if they pluck their eyes to give him to see, then they would be vulnerable to being led astray. So this case is an opportunity for them to support an acceptable person, not someone who just has ambition to become a governor, but somebody who is the people’s choice, somebody who the people will follow and when that person wins governorship, he will win the people for APC and positively influence elections for the party in 2027, someone who would ensure that there are credible and strong candidates in different elective positions in 2027, and the government will be supporting them to be campaigning to vote APC all the way. Because if you don’t have APC government in Anambra State, you can’t have a strong support. So, Soludo will be disappointed because if you have an incumbent governor who is not counting or hoping to win on his popularity, but by counting only on support from Abuja, so, why should the APC inherit his liabilities.
Some people have linked the violence in the South East to the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but much of the violence is taking place in Anambra. Is it that he has such a strong hold of supporters in Anambra State?
Well, don’t forget that Nnamdi Kanu is not from Anambra State. Nnamdi Kanu is from Abia State and all he is agitating for is for the entire South-East not Anambra. Yes, you are right that we don’t see the crime in that magnitude in other places except Anambra. So, what that tells you simply is that those people have put their hearts together and have been able to master the courage and harnessed the resources, both material and human, to confront the crime and create a viable economic environment in their states. But here we are in Anambra State, where those people are operating without hindrance, the state has become a safe haven for criminals. His (Kanu’s) agitation for what he believes in is not supposed to be a violent one. In recent times, we have also seen his hand-written notes denouncing crime and calling on people committing crime in his name to desist from such act because you cannot kill those you are out to save and protect. So I think it is what he wrote in his handwriting and I think that is what he believes in. So, there is no doubt that other people might be under the disguise committing crimes.
There is no society that is free of crime, but it continues and expands if they do it without challenge. As much as I believe that the solution is not to go and start hitting them, you need to give them options. From my observation, 60 percent of those who are into kidnapping are normal everyday people. They are not from the moon. They have tried their hands on Keke Napep, but ran out of town because of Soludo’s tax collectors. They have tried their hands in other things but because of the stiff economic situation in Anambra, they believe all of a sudden, they can grab somebody and get N5m. Even if one person is called into the business and is afraid and he sees his friend goes on the first one and succeeds, goes for the second one and succeeds and he sees that there is no harm, he may join. This is what we see going on. But when somebody commits crime and he is traced and brought to book, other people will be careful. So, if he (Soludo) uses his mouth to say people have commercialised kidnapping and crime, which is a shame. It is so because he created the room and allowance for them to operate, If they have no space to operate, they would by themselves cross the border and abandon the trade.
The opposition in the state appears to be in disarray. It looks as if they have handed the governor a reelection ticket already?
Well, it might look so if you judge by the position of the parties actually including APGA. APGA is in disarray. What you have today in Anambra is Soludo Solution, not APGA and it is manifesting in his dressing. Remember the previous APGA leaders who always wear the APGA regalia with the cock, and Ikemba’s image on. Today, Soludo has jettisoned all of those things and created his own solution uniform which is akweeche and the image you see there is neither cock nor hen or even pigeon, what you have on his own is vulture, which we call Udeku. That’s what Soludo wears and the colour is white and red. So what it means is that spirit of APGA has long departed. Does it look like we have handed him a second term? No. Anambra people are very resilient. The bell will ring very soon and they will come out in their strength and show the world that they have rejected the man who has not shown value to the most important thing in heaven and on earth which is life. Because in the midst of all the bloodshed in the state, Soludo is dancing to GwogwoGwongwo music. He is celebrating his wedding anniversary. He is attending his Christmas carol when there is pain, sorrow and agony in every part of the land.
Considering these complaints about his government, have you the elders tried to call him to order?
Yes, I can tell you that elders and Elder’s elders have done everything possible to talk to Soludo but by his nature, he is like a king that listens to no one. That is the situation we have found ourselves now. That was why in one of my recent interviews, I called him an ‘Intellectual Narcissist’. Even in his demeanour and choice of words, anywhere he goes, he speaks condescendingly on people. So, what would you advise somebody who sees everyone around him as a student in a classroom? It is a hopeless situation.
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