The Federal Government on Monday warned
international airlines to stop treating in-bound and out-bound Nigerian
passengers with disdain.
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| SIRIKA |
It also announced that the international
terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport would be completed
before the end of this year.
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.
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.
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.
PUNCH
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