25th April, 2012
The Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, will not enforce the ban on British Airways and other foreign airlines over their exorbitant fares as the 30-day ultimatum expires today, P.M.NEWS has learnt.
The minister, in brawny language, on 25 March, 2012, gave British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other foreign airlines, a 30-day ultimatum to crash their fares or be booted out, saying that Nigerians are being fleeced.
Oduah accused British Airways of charging about $10,000 for a First Class seat between Lagos and London, while a similar journey attracts less than half that amount between Accra and London.
But, as the deadline expired today, the special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, told our correspondent on telephone this morning that the ban can no longer take effect because the matter is now beyond the Aviation Ministry, adding that today has not yet ended.
“Today has not ended. But, it is no longer a Ministry of Aviation matter as the Senate has intervened and it will be very disrespectful and prejudicial to the institution of the Senate to enforce the ban while they are still investigating the matter,” he said.
Obi, re-echoing an argument the ministry has used for months, said that the need to crash the fares is to ensure that Nigerian passengers are treated fairly and not cheated.
Early today, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, KLM-Air France and other foreign airlines were still charging the same fares which the ministry had described as offensive and unacceptable.
One of the minister’s aides, Mr. Toyin Okpaise, was reported to have said last night that Nigerians should await a statement from the minister today.
But, with Obi’s words, it seems the status quo will maintain until investigation by the Senate is completed.
Aviation analysts had described as barren the minister’s threat, saying that she could not regulate a market she did not have.
They advised her and the Federal Government to focus on setting up a new national carrier for Nigeria to stimulate competition, instead of chasing shadows.
British Airways at the Public Hearing at the Nigerian Senate argued that its fares are determined by market forces and explained that the fare disparity is only on Business or First Class seats. With a phalanx of Nigerian businessmen and government officials scampering for those seats, their fares can only be overpriced, analysts argue.
—Simon Ateba