The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, and heads of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria to explain why foreign airlines were allowed to fly multiple routes within the country.
The Senate said the indigenous airlines could go into extinction if spirited efforts were not made to halt designation of multiple routes within Nigeria to foreign airlines.
The Senate decision to summon the aviation agencies was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Ifyeanyi Uba.
Ubah, while speaking on the motion, lamented that foreign airlines which engaged in domestic flights have hijacked the market from indigenous airlines.
He said it is only in Nigeria such could happen because other countries have laws that protect their indigenous Airlines.
He said: “Foreign airlines are now designated to multiple routes within Nigeria.
“For example, Ethiopia airlines operates in five cities, namely: Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos; Turkish Airlines operates in four cities: Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt.
“Emirates Airlines operate two frequencies daily into Lagos and one to Abuja.”
At the end of the debate on the motion, the Senate also directed foreign airlines to provide statistics of Nigerians in their employment with a view to encouraging them to employ more Nigerians and partner with indigenous airlines in the country.
The Red Chamber further urged the Federal Government to give indigenous airlines necessary support and protection to keep them afloat.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the motion decried the pathetic situation of domestic airlines in the country.
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