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Senator
Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation
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The Federal Government on
Monday warned international airlines to stop treating in-bound and out-bound
Nigerian passengers with disdain. The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi
Sirika, said there would be dire consequences for airline operators who treat
Nigerians shabbily, especially on international operations.
The
Punch report continues:
Sirika
gave the warning when a delegation from the Emirates Group paid him a courtesy
visit in his office in Abuja.
A
statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs in the
ministry quoted Sirika as telling his guests that the government would not
condone the practice of subjecting Nigerians to all forms of suffering like
making them to walk across long distances before boarding or using small
aircraft that lack the capacity to carry the travellers along with their
luggage to their destinations.
The
warning was prompted by the recent action of Turkish Airlines, after it brought
in passengers from Istanbul to Abuja on two occasions without their luggage.
Some
of the angry passengers on one of the flights invaded the tarmac of the NAIA in
protest against the airline, resulting into a serious security breach.
The
statement noted that Sirika informed the visiting group that the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority had been directed to invoke all relevant laws to protect the
interest and rights of Nigerians and others from being flagrantly abused by
airlines.
He,
however, assured the operators of the Federal Government’s commitment to the
complete overhaul and upgrading of the nation’s airport facilities to make the
use of Nigeria’s airspace a delightful experience.
The
Federal Government also announced that the international terminal of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport would be completed before the end of this year.
On
the ongoing construction of the second terminal at the NAIA, the minister gave
an assurance that the facility would be ready before the end of the year,
stating that its completion would improve the comfort and convenience of both
the airline operators and the flying public.
The
Vice President, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs, Emirate Group, Mr. David
Broz, pledged the group’s commitment to serve Nigeria better, describing the
country as the airline’s second biggest market in Africa.
Meanwhile,
the National Union of Air Transport Employees has threatened to ground the
operations of Aero Contractors Airline and prevent it from flying any of its aircraft
out of the Lagos airport from today (Tuesday).
The
Secretary General, NUATE, Mr. Olayinka Abioye, made the threat on Monday after
leading a workers’ protest to the office of the airline in Lagos.
The
protest was to register the workers’ displeasure over the airline management’s
decision to sack some of its employees who are union leaders, describing the
action as “insensitive and anti-labour.”
NUATE
urged the management to re-instate the union leaders without delay, stating
that it was firmly behind the sacked leaders and their co-workers.
It
also urged the Federal Government to probe activities of the airline, alleging
that the firm had mismanaged funds granted it by the Asset Management Company
of Nigeria to reposition it.
However,
the management of the airline has reported the association to the Ministry of
Labour and Productivity Ministry, Aviation ministry, Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority and the Department of State Services, asking them to look into the
matter.
The Acting Managing
Director and Chief Executive, Aero Contractors, Iyene Amapakabo, called on the
authorities to check the unwholesome practice of the union because of its
serious safety implications on the airline’s operations.
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