The Senate has called for investigation into the alleged blocking of Emirates, Turkish and Etihad airlines from Abuja by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.
The minister was recently reported to have denied the three foreign airlines the approval to extend their services to Abuja airport in addition to Lagos where they currently operate.
But yesterday, the Senate, while debating the report of the Senator Hope Uzodinma-led Senate Committee on Aviation on the violation of aviation laws by foreign airlines and lapses in the operations of regulatory agencies, directed the committee to investigate the issue.
Senate President David Mark said such an investigation would help the Senate know the situation of things.
"I think the problem is that there are rumours that Emirates Airline and other wanted to come here, and the Aviation Minister said they should go to Enugu rather than go to Kano. Our aviation committee should find out all these for us to know whether they are true or false. When we say that we want to allow competition in the system, let us provide conducive environment for everybody to have a fair deal in the competition," Mark said.
Similarly, the House of Representatives yesterday instituted an investigation into the reports that Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah blocked four foreign airlines from landing in Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano) through a motion said Turkish, Ethiopian, Emirates and Skylines had long submitted applications to the minister seeking to commence commercial flight to Kano, but she instead insisted on arranging local airlines to fly their passengers to Enugu.
Madaki's prayer that an adhoc committee be set up to conduct the investigation was however rejected by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who instead asked Deputy Minority Leader Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano) to move that the matter be referred to the House standing committee on aviation for investigation.
Daily Trust