(http://www.theinfostride.com/images/resized/images/stories/Resized/uzodimma_280_210_47x35.gif) The Federal Government loses N3.7 billion annually to sharp practices in the statutory five percent ticket sales charged by the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, the Senate said yesterday.
Adopting a motion by Senator Hope Uzodinma (PDP, Imo West) and 31 others, the Senate noted that a recent investigation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) indicted both airlines for collusion, unfair, deceptive and anti-competitive practices.
The Senate expressed concerned that foreign airlines charge arbitrary fees on Nigerian travellers over and above rates charged by them on routes of same or equal distance from other distances outside Nigeria to various parts of the world.
It, therefore, mandated its committee on Aviation to investigate all issues regarding compliance or non-compliance with the relevant aviation laws and foreign airlines' unwholesome activities undermining the growth of the sector in the country.
Opening the debate earlier, Senator Uzodinma said most Nigerian passengers are constrained to travel to London through Accra, Ghana, and the nation's economy suffers huge losses.
"The first class Lagos-London return fare is $10,816; Abuja-London return flight is $10,144; whereas the same booking for passenger on the Accra-London route is $4,798. While business class Lagos-London return fare is $7,370, on Accra-London route, it is $4,098. Return economy ticket from London-New York is $625, London-Dallas is $787, London to Florida is $730, London-Atlanta is $772. These routes are a nine-hour flight minimum; while the cheapest economy return ticket from Abuja-London which is 6hours amounts to $1, 200," Uzodinma said.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Uche Chukwumerije (PDP, Abia North) described the arbitrary pricing as "provocative, discriminatory and neocolonialist," while Senator Abdullahi Gobir (PDP, Sokoto East) said foreign airlines should be made to compensate Nigerian passengers who had been unduly shortchanged.
Refuting the claim that the high cost of doing business in Nigeria accounts for the discriminatory charges by foreign airlines, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), Barnabas Gemade (PDP, Benue) and Olubunmi Adetunmi (ACN, Ekiti) urged the Federal Government to bar Nigerians from patronizing any foreign airline involved in discriminatory charges.
Senator Attai Aidoko (ANPP, Kogi East) said, "Foreign travels constitute half of our national budget, and if the situation is redressed, our recurrent expenditure would be reduced drastically."
Senate President David Mark who harped on the need to amend the Aviation Act 2006, which according to him, has not provided sanctions against violators, accused the nation's regulatory agencies of conniving with foreign airlines to exploit Nigerians.
.
Daily Trust