Senate committee chair cautions airlines on arbitrary fare increase

The Chairperson Senate Committee on Aviation, Biodun Olujimi, has called on airlines to work towards preventing arbitrary increase in airfares.

The senator stated this at the second edition of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Conference (FNAC), saying the conference provided an opportunity for the industry stakeholders to address the issue.

She said: “There are reasons why the airfares go up, but there is also the need for us to get many people to embrace the aviation industry. That is key to the development of the industry.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the four-day conference in Abuja, yesterday, she expressed reservations over the continued picketing of the airports by the aviation workers union, saying: “There should be a way where the workers’ unions settle all their grievances without bringing them to the airport as most of the issues that were put on the front burner were already settled by the various agencies.”

Olujini said picketing puts Nigerian operators in very bad standing with their counterparts abroad.

“I think the time is ripe for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the workers’ unions to know that there are certain industries where picketing should not be allowed. Aviation is one of them,” she insisted.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, stated that despite the brick walls and bureaucratic bottlenecks, the ministry was able to develop a robust roadmap to chart a new course in the industry, which is evident in the numerous projects embarked upon – from runway construction and rehabilitation projects to new international terminals, which have been completed and commissioned.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, urged the industry stakeholders to use the platform to come up with recommendations that would impact the industry positively.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Rabiu Yadudu, said the conference provided a unified platform for all industry stakeholders to discuss the challenges militating against the growth of the industry.