Domestic airlines operators in Nigeria have been alerted of the sharp practices perpetrated by oil marketers by the Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison against buying aviation fuel as kerosene is sold instead.
Meggison alleged that major oil marketers had been selling kerosene as aviation fuel to the operators which he said affected the performances of the engines in many of the aircraft flying around the country during a one-day breakfast meeting organised by Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos State.
Consequent upon this, the airline chief disclosed how the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had sent a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) coming into Nigeria, warning them to beware of aviation fuel being sold in Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had already been informed of the development.
While lamenting that the Nigerian aviation fuel was one of the most expensive in the world, Megisson declared: “Aviation fuel is an additional challenge for operators in the country.
“Nigeria has the most expensive fuel for Jet A1 in the world. Warri refinery was producing Jet A1 till the 1990s until it stopped working. The availability of Jet A1 would make other airlines to come around for fueling in Nigeria.
“Also, the Value Added Tax (VAT) collected from airlines is the only mode of transportation being charged VAT today by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) at the point of sales as against the 21 days stipulated by the constitution.”
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