THE Senate, yesterday, told the Federal Government to revive the dead Nigeria Airways before the end of this administration if the present indiscriminate hike in airfares by foreign airlines must be addressed.
It also called for a review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between Nigeria and Britain.
This came as management of British Airways told the senators that rather than discuss the issue of fare disparity, Nigeria should open up the skies and let more airlines come in, explaining why it could not cut down fares.
According to the Senate, the aviation authority should restore the agreement which allows Nigeria and Britain equal slots and frequency of 21, which only the British airline enjoys the full privilege, while Nigeria’s Arik Air was left with only seven.
Speaking, yesterday, at the opening of a three-day public hearing on the violation of aviation laws and practice by foreign airlines in Nigeria and lapses in operation of the regulatory agencies by the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senate President, David Mark, said the return of the nation’s national carrier would create employment opportunities for Nigerians as well as restore the country’s image in the global aviation industry.
Mark, who was represented by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, challenged Nigeria to use the present scenario in the aviation sector to make its impact felt in Africa.
He said: “It is important that we direct the Minister of Aviation before the end of this tenure that Nigeria Airways is brought back on stream. I do hope that they will accept the challenge.
“We feel very embarrassed each time we travel abroad and see other airlines carry the national flag of their countries and the names of their respective countries and Nigeria is missing. It is not only for the purpose of national pride, it’s important for the development of our tourism. It will also generate income and create employment for our people. This is the time for us to do something about it and restore Nigeria’s past glory in respect of aviation and air travels. ‘’
Ashiru blames lapses on FAAN, NCAA, others
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, told the committee that the lapses in the aviation industry should be blamed on the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and other agencies, and warned against allowing what he described as commercial dispute degenerate into diplomatic row.
He said: “It should be a commercial discussion and not dispute. What we have is a commercial dispute and what we see happening now is a failure of regulatory agencies to do their jobs. If the regulatory agencies had done their job very well, we would not have got to this stage. There is no justification for the rip off that Nigerians are going through.”
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