NOT SAFE ON ARRIVAL- what we can’t expect from government

There’s no easy way to look at it-‘the Nigerian people are losing confidence in their government’.  One might reckon that this is a rhetorical cliché that plays its self out routinely in recent time. Much like the public standing amorally opposed to the government and ranting away with demands: Demands that even if won, will trade off surreptitiously with another desperate need awaiting the call for another standoff.

In truth, history’s retrospect has been a faithful partner that we obstinately refuse to acknowledge. We continue to learn no lessons from her.

Yesterday at a cafe in my neighbourhood a friend commented about the air crash in a suburb just outside the airport vicinity (a NEMA source says it was within the airport perimeter); he mentioned a friend’s name that i didn't know was in it. It was very heart wrenching sad news, but up to that time i didn't realise i actually new someone in it quite well- it became personal to me.  I tried to taper down the cascading emotions that overwhelmed me. It had a real human face at this point. ‘These needless crashes and avoidable social perturbations had to stop’, i almost yelped out!  We’d heard uncorroborated information about the crash; the conflicting figures of passenger and crew, allegations of extra admissions to the flight and administrative confusions etcetera even a survivor account on a ‘crack’ sound from a tail section of the plain before takeoff. I couldn't help thinking ‘we've don’t it again’. Even without the facts, one is tempted to point fingers given the usual accompanying messiness and lack of organisation.

The fact is that the time has come for action to be taken, not just in aviation but with all government institutions. It is time to demand for technocracy and competency. It is time for government to eschew reforms that does not have real practical (and structural considerations) and will not get real political muscle to back it up.

This last crash again opens up a lot of concerns and even though we don’t have the details it is safe to say that the fact may never be clear to us, just like in previous incidents. Why? Well like in all things we are known for, we failed to have a clear commitment to get to root of it, we don't have any structural intelligence gathering, and we don’t have institutional guidance and capacity overall. So we can’t safely say we know what to do with what we will get from this crash. If there will be anything left after the looters and the local miscreants popularly called ‘the area boys’ have had their pick from the hapless bodies of the deceased victims, they will be soiled clues and evidence.

The fact of the matter is that the accident site has been totally decimated and has more of contamination than evidence (or clues).  Different agencies spent invaluable time mudslinging on one another’s duty prescription instead of cordoning off the site immediately (since it’s technically a crime scene).  And clearly more significantly, there was a total absence of methodical emergency coordination or response.

The story of this incidence is the story of us, of Nigeria. It is not different from what happens in the government hospitals (even private hospitals), it’s not different from what is happening in education. It is not different from what is happening in the police or any other part of governance or of our country- it is I shamefully admit, ‘our story so far’. It doesn't make us bad people but it just shows it’s time for progress and demands.

 That is why we have to be persistent in pushing reason onto the table of discourse without relenting.  Someday, it will be heard.  According to Oby Ezekwesili, “there are no silver bullets” but “we will not dignify nonsense” –we must continue to demand realistic reforms from government, we must continue to insist that it be backed by qualified political will. The long standing attitude of nonchalance, jejune bickering and half pitches from our leaders must stop!  We must continue to insist on competency while expecting gradual but consistent change.

Any political leader who promises any change without a detailed time line on how they plan to deliver on it is not just lying but may also be totally ignorant of the reality.  Because change takes building institutions, and structure within that institution to make it sustainable; there must be planning, development and implementation. All these take resources, time and proper leadership to see through.  

Our number is our advantage only in the hope that governance affects the ‘common man’ and empowers them; it can be an adversary in hopes dashed.  We cannot wish away these situations around us.  This is the time of reflection once again- we can yet take this early lesson that may help us avoid an impending social ‘crash’.  Oby Ezeks again said....”Our population may be a comparative advantage but it is not a competitive one.....”  Only in peace and sufficiency can size be a source of strength.

The voice of reason is soft but it is very persistent

~Sigmund Freud

GROWING WINGS FOR NEW DESTINATIONS

GROWING WINGS FOR NEW DESTINATIONS

Many avid Africa travellers know that long distance ground travel might technically ground your travel plans to many final destinations –Unless you are a backpacking intrepid traveller, volunteer, or a missionary etcetera, you may find it overtly adventurous.  Your best bet would be to go by air to at least an hour’s drive from your general destination where possible.  

Thanks to current thread of investments in air travel, this option may not be very far off after all!

According to the World Bank, there has been scores of air transport projects going on in Africa, more than any other region since 2012; these include modernization and building of new airports, and investment in aviation infrastructure.  The result of this trend will be an increase in passenger numbers by over a hundred million in less than a decade, ushering in Africa as a truly global tourism region.

As Air Travel in Africa continues to grow in leaps and bounds, international air traffic to and from the continent has seen a yearly rise of about 6 percent in the last decade and that figure is expected to improve within the next few years. 

Domestic traffic on its part is expected to grow at more than 12 percent, driven largely by an explosion of activity in Nigeria.

With by far the largest youth population and a growing middle class, the domestic travel market rise in Africa is increasingly motivated by the interest in intercultural and ecological diversity within the continent.  Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Angola, Kenya and Namibia are some of the sub saharan regional countries incentivising and contributing to this growth numbers in the sub- Sahara Africa.

Increasing inbound travel to more diverse locations in Africa (due largely to more airports and more capacity), shows there is much more than business travel on the minds of tourists- The United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO believes that many African destinations are becoming increasingly valuable to family vacationers and experiential travellers.

In recent years the numbers of ‘resort’ type hospitality and sports tourism is a pointer to the merits of air travel access, its increased capacity and infrastructure. In Nigeria for example, the Ibom resort provides resort type appurtenances such as massive open water and natural grasslands around which water sports and a golf course are built. Calabar also modelled its Obudu ranch to offer mountaineering activities and an international mountain race to add to her ecological haven status. 

These are all due in large part to the localization and the improving capacity of airports and aviation infrastructure making these destinations more accessible- this is one way travel and tourism can be affected by purposeful investment.

The impact of the numbers of new flights and new airports in the last few years has bolstered travel and tourism and is opening up new vistas for experiential travel.  Whilst the majority of motives for inbound African travel remain business, it is clear that there is a burgeoning experiential market that is emerging due to the air travel evolution.

Some of the confidence leading to this paradigm shift in air traffic development is the results of new investment in airports (and new runways) and its infrastructure. It has been committedly chaired by some African governments in recent years.  

The South African and Kenyan Airport authorities have invested hundreds of millions of US dollars each in building new terminals and upgrades. These projects are expected to increase passenger capacity by scores of millions. Nigeria has also begun to invest in more airports, airport infrastructure (and pilot training initiatives) to improve access and service delivery; existing airports are also being revamped. 

To keep up with this growth, Africa certainly needs billions of dollars yearly for new investments in the air travel industry for years to come; it also needs it to eventually optimise and even maximise facilities at the currently declining routes.

Many African countries have built their economies around the travel and tourism industry; And because of that, it has remained a priority to develop their air transport infrastructure and they continue to do so. The potential of air transport investment beyond the need for efficiency and the increase in the capacity to cater for growth, lie in the new connections and new access to destinations.   For whatever purpose it is intended, it is clear that more access means easy admission to final destination for business and leisure. 

Air transport remains a real challenge in Africa-it is made even worse due to inadequate and often the absence of any viable alternatives.  Gazing into the future, your airline tickets may probably remain a favourable ‘pass’ that gets us close enough to experience newer travel wonders, at least for most inbound travellers! 

THE AFRICA TRAVELLERS NOTES-business or leisure

THE AFRICA TRAVELLERS NOTES-business or leisure

It’s hard to allude to an African travel without mention of wildlife, natives and Adventure tours- this is what it often evokes to non-African first time travelers. THEY ARE ALL CORRECT!

It should be all that to them because Africa is a homestead for experiential travel built around ecological and cultural tourism. But there is a new face to it; it is the new lasting feature that will likely better combine the unending adventure- BUSINESS opportunity!

ON DEMAND- BUSINESS TRAVEL ON THE RISE IN AFRICA

The growth across the African Economic landscape is increasing demand for business travel across the region.  With the asymptotic position of the continental leader South Africa, others like Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and recently Angola along with some coastal island nations have began to gain new momentum for the continent.  All this has led African carriers to begin to cut cross-continental routes to make way for more flights to more (even new) African cities.

According to travel experts, due to stagnation in global economies, African countries are benefiting from inbound travel with new investment money. The increase in demand is because while economies across the world continue to stagnate or experience marginal growth, countries in Africa are experiencing real growth across a wide range of sectors. Numbers of inbound travelers (business travelers) are on the rise along with the upward adjustments in hotel room rates. The high room rates on its part, is due to lack of competition ensuing from non availability of quality hotels (in desirable locations) to meet the demand -this is very poignant in Nigeria more so than other places.

While travel numbers go north on the scale, the costs of travel doesn't yet seem to decline significantly.  A report from the HRG, an African travel think tank explains that while challenges remain with the need for improved infrastructure and security, the region remains on an upward slope to growth. It is called the ‘Africa-travel surge’ phenomenon. Whilst we look towards airports being upgraded, roads constructed or and maintained, investment in hotels and resort seem to be taking lead- it is seen everywhere you look. 

To top it all Africa has the fastest growing internet market (by new users) in the world. This all points to the growing awareness that Africa realizes her potential as a double destination for business and leisure- and the inbound travelers are growing impatient to come. Again on the business side, Africa airlines are paying attention and investing in the intracontinental schedules- South African airways and Ethiopian airlines and leading the way.

INTO AFRICA-WHO DRIVES NEW INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

The intrepid European and American travelers are often a barometer with which to measure trends pertaining to where people are visiting and what they like to do. This niche inbound influences have helped business and the travel industry stakeholders to really analyze what the 'new wants' are; what people want to do , where they want to go why they want to go and get these experiences.

My American friend Tanya (a sociology professor in the US), once said during her visit to Nigeria that there are a gazillion things to do here in Africa but you never know where or how to get there- there is no information. Tanya couldn't be more right. She only said this because of a story I told her about a group of friends and I on a sponsored road trip around the country. I confessed to her how little we knew or even expected and how pleasantly surprised we were- from hidden clear water private beaches in Ondo state to little know ‘Kirigi’ drum festivals in Imesi-Ile, Osun state and a spectacular creek tour in Akwa-Ibom. The most surprising was a little known medieval looking ‘Kajuru Castle’ in Kaduna state -originally built as dwelling for the European builders and owners but later converted to a guest inn. This experience luckily, has inspired me to begin development on an online travel presence for the African adventure holiday maker.

Back to who drives it all?- Well, one thing that’s certain is that more than half of the inbound business travelers to Africa are open to invest in something else other than they initially intended. This is because, it’s often easier to see a need when coming fresh from a place such needs are a common place.

My Russian friend Dimitry once said, ‘the real stimulus stems from the view that as an emerging region for travel and business, it’s easier to find a need yet to be fulfilled’- I suppose he reflects on what his homeland Russia went through which was somewhat similar, with innovation and investment having an important role to play in it.

Most new original start-ups in the Nigerian business terrain (and Africa as a whole) often come from the Diaspora. This group is the category of in-bounders who are Nigeria's (or other African natives) that have come back to invest in new ideas and businesses in their country- they come mostly from Europe and the US.  To be fair, it’s a lot easier to think outside the box when you’re outside the box- they get a better visual of what might be lacking.

Take the internet business for instance- according to a recent study Nigerian internet startups and up-starts in the last 4 years or so, have about 30 top players; all but 2 where created by Diaspora in-bounders or Diaspora Nationals. They include online social commentary/blogs, online news-media, online video and music content providers, online travel agencies, online shopping and distribution, online trading/shopping, online energy trading services and many more.

Beyond the online media it gets more interesting; the fashion and services sectors are practically awash with inbound talent and investment. Surely there are a few homegrown investment but it’s hard to ignore the raw impact from our travelled country folks.

The once upon a time 'uncharted continent' evolves into an emerging business destination.

In the wake of all these, the big familiar businesses are also finding root: banking, communication, solid minerals and oil and gas among others are also growing.

The emerging world super power China, also takes notice!  Awash with a lot of cash, China’s influence is growing with increasing foreign direct investment, FDI in Africa. Having oiled their business diplomacy wheels, they now have the heart of the African people along with their appetite for Chinese commodities and services.

It’s no surprise China’s airlines (along with other non African airlines) are investing while slugging out the African routes schedules with African airlines for the teaming business class takers.

Africa remains a destination with great potential.  As travellers come to her seeking to take advantage of experiential travel and business, they often find a journey of a thousand surprises.