Wednesday, February 24, 2016

NLC Petitions Minister On Togo’s Rejection Of ECOWAS Travel Certificate


The Togolese government may have given orders to airlines flying into the country not to carry Nigerian passengers holding the ECOWAS Travel Certificate, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba has said.

The Nation report continues:

Wabba said he was prevented from travelling to Lome with the ECOWAS travel document by Asky Airline on Monday.

In a petition to the Minister of Interior, NLC General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson said: “We bring to your attention a matter we consider to be of national significance.

“In the morning of Monday, February 22, 2016, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, was prevented from travelling from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to Lome, Togo, by officials of Asky Airline.

“Officials of Asky Airline, who denied Comrade Wabba boarding on account of his ECOWAS Travel Certificate issued by the Federal Government on behalf of ECOWAS, said they were acting on the instructions of the Togolese government.  In other words, according to them, the government of Togo, a member of ECOWAS, does not recognize this document.

“Comrade Wabba’s ECOWAS travel document was issued on July 16, 2015, and has an expiration date of July 15, 2017.  He has used the same document to enter Senegal and Ghana.

“Immigration officials, who witnessed this incident, said many Nigerians have been subjected to this humiliating experience.  It is curious that at the time of ticket purchase, Asky Airline did not warn prospective passengers of ECOWAS origin that the Togolese government does not accept or recognize the ECOWAS Travel Certificate.

“We are not aware of the fact that the Republic of Togo has withdrawn its membership of ECOWAS.  And if it is a subsisting member of ECOWAS, we find it inexplicable that it could mete out this kind of treatment to travellers of Nigerian origin.

“We hold the view that Nigerians, wherever they are, are deserving of protection if they act within the law.  Comrade Wabba was expected at Lome this morning for an activity of ITUC-Africa.

“The disruption of his travel plan and, by extension, denial of his participation at this major activity, has caused him considerable embarrassment as well as constituted a setback to the Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria.
“Other Nigerians similarly treated, no doubt, have suffered losses. We wish to invite your intervention on this matter to save a recurrence.”

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