Business Aviation: Achuzie Ezenagu comments on Nigerian economic renaissance

 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.