Human Rights Activists Decry Airfare Surge, Task FGN on Prompt Review
3 min read
Human Rights Activists Decry Airfare Surge, Task FGN on Prompt Review
…. Says Festus Keyamo Is Unfit As Minister of Aviation
By Onome Naomi
The voice of the voiceless ambassador and convener of AMPEF, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche is calling on the federal government to address the increasing prices of airfare by the various airlines in the country. He says Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo is incompetent.
Iche in review of the present prices of airfare says the country is experiencing increased airfare from state to state as the least rated airline now charges a minimum of N150,000 from Lagos to Abuja while airlines with higher patronage charges N250,000. It should be noted that the spate of surges on transportation especially by air directly affects goods and services, income earners and business owners who needs to move from place to place to accomplish targeted goals.
According to Iche, the incompetence of the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo is evident in the handling of the aviation sector as airfare steadily increases with few planes in operation to convey air travellers. He says Keyamo’s role was not properly deliberated before his appointment, he is unfit for the position.
Furthermore, Iche said
” We do not have so many airlines in Nigeria, why then does the present administration ignore the ills and misappropriation in the aviation sector. The airlines should have a regulatory board to checkmate it’s activities which includes stabilizing airfare for air travellers. Ignoring the plight of Nigerians can be narrowed down to incompetence and inhumanity.”
” The New Nigerian Airline taken over by the government has gone into extinction, the airline came in as mere deceit to embezzle public funds and not airworthy to convey people as it is a rebranded and refurbished shamble of a plane.”
” Dana Air was also suspended by federal government amidst limited airplanes and high airfare for travellers. It is only fair for the govt to endorse the spring up of other airlines in the aviation sector to give room for a healthy competition thereby easing the stress off Nigerians as they travel according to choices and affordability, suspended airlines should be lifted. “
” It is a shame that Nigeria, the giant of Africa do not have her country’s airline owned and controlled by the federal government like Air Ghana, Ethiopian Air, Kenyan Airways, LAM Mozambique Airlines, Egypt Air, South African Airways and other country owned airlines.”
Iche added that the main focus of the Minister is to regulate the activities of the airline sector bearing in mind and in practice that the revival of the Nigerian airline is a major project that should be executed as soon as he assumes the seat of power as Minister of Aviation. Hence the need for a replacement of Minister in the aviation sector is tenable due to Keyamo’s show of incapability. It should be noted that during former president Buhari’s administration, same Keyamo appointed in April 2018, as the director of Strategic Communications failed in his position. In the 2019 re-election bid of President Buhari, he was later appointed minister of state for Labour and Employment.
Additional References
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should reshuffle his cabinet as Nigeria is regressing rather than progress. Situations resulting in high cost of land transportation asides increase in airfare and insecurity experienced by food production states is a burden on Nigerians. The common man’s food(rice) is too expensive to afford. If the president wants Nigerians to take him seriously, he should disband and replace appointees in his cabinet.
Read Also:Lagos Lawmakers, Stakeholders Meet As State Plans Own Electricity Market
The masses have passed a vote of no confidence on President Tinubu’s administration unless he proffer solutions to the already dire situation that has enveloped Nigeria and Nigerians – Comrade Prince Saviour Iche speaks for Voice of the voiceless.
About The Author
