The House of Representatives has directed Committees on Aviation, Commerce and Human Rights to investigate the State of Nigerian airports. Others are the activities of airline operators and the coordinating/regulatory agencies in the aviation sector. The committee is expected to report back to the House within Eight weeks. This is sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate the poor performance and high charges by airlines operators in Nigeria moved by Hon. Simon Elisha Karu, ,at plenary on Wednesday. Hon. Karu noted that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) places aviation within the Legislative competence of the National Assembly and by virtue thereof, the National Assembly enacted the Civil Aviation (Repeal and Enactment) Act, 2006 and establishes the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the regulator of the aviation sector in Nigeria.
He revealed that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is statutorily charged with the responsibility to manage commercial airports in Nigeria to provide service to the passenger, cargo airlines, create a conducive environment for efficient management of air transport services and promote economic development in the country.
Adding that airlines authority has a duty to provide customer assistance and services towards ensuring that passengers get conducive and hospitality environment as well as to get the right information relating to their bookings and adequate flight schedule amongst other duties.
“Nigerians have not enjoyed domestic air travel due to constant delays and cancellation of flights with impunity and change of airline departure time contrary to Regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and in contravention of International Aviation Standards, recently, the burden of domestic air-travelers in Nigerians has been increased by the sudden 120% increase in local airfares in the country.
“The Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) lamented the deplorable state of the Airport in Nigeria and in an interview with the Guardian Newspaper, the Controller stated that the Airport Authority needs at least 600 to 650 ATCOs for effective management and monitoring of the Control Tower as it is dangerous to have just one controller on duty.”
He further explained that Lagos Airport had problems with the automated common user check-in platforms been shut down, on the other hand, the foreign airlines are conducting a volume of passenger facilitation by improvising alternative platforms to check-in passengers and necessary screening, the system shutdown led to chaotic scenes in all the four international airports – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, but it was later learnt that the foreign automation company, State Information Technology Agency’s (SITA) 10-year contract with FAAN expired in May 2021.
“Nigeria has the most expensive price regimes of local airfares with ticket rates doubled in December 2021, an economy class seat which cost about N33,000 now goes for N75,000 and the average return trip for an economy class domestic flight in Nigeria is about N121,000.
“The welfare and the security of the people is the primary purpose of government and to this end, parliament enacted the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, (FCCPA) 2018 to promote fair, efficient and competitive markets and protect the rights of all consumers in Nigeria.
“Despite the mandate of the Federal Competition and ConsumerB Protection Council (FCCP) Nigerian consumers continue to be exploited by local airline operators, making it imperative for the House to extend its oversight to the Aviation Industry, particularly on the exorbitant charged by local airline operations in Nigeria,” he stated.
