The Nigerian government is coming to save Arik and Air Peace – and that is a good thing. The playbook is contained in a statement by Clem Agba, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, as the government unveils a N2 trillion economic stimulus: “We are also looking at how to support the Aviation Sector. Like you know, a lot of planes are parked and this is causing almost N21 billion (loss) on a monthly basis. We are looking at how to provide some form of bailout support to ensure that the industry doesn’t die”.
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said on Tuesday at a webinar held by the Finance Ministry and stakeholders, that the Federal Government is planning to inject a N2 trillion intervention fund into the economy.
The Federal Government had earlier doled out N50 billionTargeted Credit Facility fund to help businesses in Nigeria as the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across sectors. But the fund appears so meager to bail out most of the businesses under the strain of COVID-19 impact. The aviation sector is among the most affected, causing one of the leading Airlines,Arik to lay off staff.
Agba said the fund will offer a lifeline to businesses mostly impacted by the pandemic, especially the aviation sector which according to him, is losing N21 billion monthly.
“All in all, when everything is put together, both government funding and the funds we are expected to get from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Banks of Industry and other multilateral agencies and grants that we are receiving, we expect to get a stimulus of about N2 trillion going into the economy.
“We are also looking at how to support the Aviation Sector. Like you know, a lot of planes are parked and this is causing almost N21 billion (loss) on a monthly basis. We are looking at how to provide some form of bailout support to ensure that the industry doesn’t die.
“Of the $2.5 billion facilities from the World Bank, about $1 billion of it will be going to the states as loans. Mr. President has already approved N850 billion loan from the domestic capital market,” he said.
I have written about a challenging future for Arik here. That came after I made a similar call on Air Peace here. That government is coming to help the aviation sector is a good call. Without both, the Nigerian economy will not have any chance to rise. There is no commerce without logistics & supply chain – aviation is a critical element of that. Of course, Aero and other airlines will be supported.
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From Agba’s statement, the government is hoping to inject N2 trillion, listing sources it’s still hoping support would come from; I cannot take such statement to the bank.
Well, anywhere they can pull out money from to support critical sectors is a welcome move, but they also need to adopt the new US position, where bailout money is no longer a giveaway, once the business stabilises, repayment process should be activated.
Some years back, the CBN doled out intervention funds for the aviation industry, and some recipients used the funds for something else; such cannot be allowed to happen again.
After reading you, I opened the thread to know who had received from the N50 billion dole
Are the Arik and Airpeace only two operator to benefita, we have functional indigenous operator whose are hit badly by c19, apart of these two career
Are the Arik and Airpeace only two operator to benefit with, we have functional indigenous operators whose are hit badly by c19, apart of these two career
I think we noted that Aero and others would also get into the mix
Nothing Personal here but Arik Air DOES NOT, in my opinion, DESERVE any (further) BAILOUTS since this is what another Bailout would amount to.
The Airline is already in receivership; ?? is paying its HUGE Debts, while the the “owners” ab. We are already smiling to the Banks. Only those who do not know “the history of Arik” would be happy with more money to the airline.
No doubting that the others need and deserve BAILOUTS but as, I hope, LOANS.
No one will argue there – Arik has already been bailed out. If needs to just go while another takes its position. Yet, if you remove Arik in the equation, expect 50% rate increase in the sector.