Why military admin trumps politicians’ – Chief Arthur Eze
- Details
- Category: Comments
- Written by Shehu Abubakar
- Hits: 1983
Chairman and Chief executive of defunct Triax Airlines, Chief Arthur Eze said he joined the airline business by accident. He stated in this interview that military administrations in Nigeria are more transparent and serious on the execution of public projects. Excerpts:
How did you join the airline business?
Chief Arthur Eze: I was motivated by late Chief MKO Abiola, may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. When I was running around for my oil business, I used to hire his aircraft. At times I may not even have money to pay him, but he doesn’t bother me. At a time, I decided to buy my own aircraft for personal use. I asked a pilot that flies the US route to buy an aircraft for me and he went and bought a very big one. I had wanted a small one that I’d be using with my family. There was no way I could have been using that big plane alone. So, I formed the Triax Airline and started a commercial fleet. I later bought two more to make them three. So you could say I ventured into the airline business by accident.
Why did the airline fold up?
Eze: There is no business because of the high cost of aviation fuel and maintenance of the aircrafts. Don’t you see that even the Federal Government could not maintain the Nigerian Airways? Do you know that Nigeria has one of the cheapest air transport systems in the world? Go and find out the cost of air fare in the US for a 500 kilometer distance and compare that with the Lagos-Abuja route. You will notice a difference of about 50 percent of the total cost. We are lucky that Arik is trying hard to remain in active service. It is not easy.
You have benefitted so much from contract business, especially during the last military regime...
Eze: If you observe well, I started the contract deal with the civilian regime before the military took over. The fact is very clear that I have not failed in any of the contracts given to me. I got most of the contracts from the military who we all know were more transparent than most of the civilian administrations.
The defunct military government of late General Mohammed Sani Abacha was the best government Nigeria ever had in my opinion. It was transparent, focused and determined. It was the first and only administration in the history of this country that never used the award of contracts and execution of projects as a means of stealing public funds. It is why I feel military administration has trumped that of politicians. Most of the good roads in the country today, the legislative quarters and the National Assembly building were all built by the military.
Articles
Why military admin trumps politicians’ – Chief Arthur Eze
Category: Comments Written by Shehu Abubakar Hits: 1983
Chairman and Chief executive of defunct Triax Airlines, Chief Arthur Eze said he joined the airline business by accident. He stated in this interview that military administrations in Nigeria are more transparent and serious on the execution of public projects. Excerpts:
How did you join the airline business?
Chief Arthur Eze: I was motivated by late Chief MKO Abiola, may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. When I was running around for my oil business, I used to hire his aircraft. At times I may not even have money to pay him, but he doesn’t bother me. At a time, I decided to buy my own aircraft for personal use. I asked a pilot that flies the US route to buy an aircraft for me and he went and bought a very big one. I had wanted a small one that I’d be using with my family. There was no way I could have been using that big plane alone. So, I formed the Triax Airline and started a commercial fleet. I later bought two more to make them three. So you could say I ventured into the airline business by accident.
Why did the airline fold up?
Eze: There is no business because of the high cost of aviation fuel and maintenance of the aircrafts. Don’t you see that even the Federal Government could not maintain the Nigerian Airways? Do you know that Nigeria has one of the cheapest air transport systems in the world? Go and find out the cost of air fare in the US for a 500 kilometer distance and compare that with the Lagos-Abuja route. You will notice a difference of about 50 percent of the total cost. We are lucky that Arik is trying hard to remain in active service. It is not easy.
You have benefitted so much from contract business, especially during the last military regime...
Eze: If you observe well, I started the contract deal with the civilian regime before the military took over. The fact is very clear that I have not failed in any of the contracts given to me. I got most of the contracts from the military who we all know were more transparent than most of the civilian administrations.
The defunct military government of late General Mohammed Sani Abacha was the best government Nigeria ever had in my opinion. It was transparent, focused and determined. It was the first and only administration in the history of this country that never used the award of contracts and execution of projects as a means of stealing public funds. It is why I feel military administration has trumped that of politicians. Most of the good roads in the country today, the legislative quarters and the National Assembly building were all built by the military.