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| L to R: Ian Sheppard Editor African Aerospace, Tarek Ragheb, Achuzie Ezenagu MD Toucan Aviation, Wynand Meyer and Nuno Pereia. |
At the inaugural Aviation Africa event held this week in
Dubai the full spectrum of the African aviation sector came together to discuss
the key factors underpinning aviation development on the continent.
A number of Africa’s business aviation elite came
together in a panel that discussed the Challenges facing Business Aviation in
Africa. All panelists were members of the dynamic African Business Aviation
Association.
Achuzie Ezenagu the MD and Founder of Toucan Aviation the
Lagos-based contract charter specialist, and Vice Chairman of the prestigious
Association, spoke about the need for policymakers to support the growth of the
industry. He argued that the growth of general aviation goes hand in hand with
rising GDPs and that it actually drives economic development. “Aircraft are
serious business tools, so the more they levy taxes on us the more they stifle
the economy,” he said commenting on the need to educate, engage and inform
policymakers. “The opportunities are
endless, we are still very much at the beginning of the development of this
industry and with the new government’s support we predict that business
aviation will become a leading industry that drives economic growth and
development in Nigeria,” commented Ezenagu. He ended the panels discussion
commenting that Nigeria is going through
a renaissance period in terms of its economic development, thanks to handover
of power to President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
He was joined on the panel by Founding Chairman of AfBAA
Tarek Ragheb, Managing Director of Angola-based aviation services company
Bestfly, Nuno Pereia and Wynand Meyer Regional Director Africa for Trip
Planning company UAS.
