Reps flay aviation minister for blocking foreign airlines from Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday said it will investigate the refusal of Aviation minister, Stella Oduah, over her refusal to grant permit to three foreign airlines to commence commercial flight to Abuja.
 
 Daily Trust had exclusively reported that Oduah has denied approval for some foreign airlines to extend their services to Abuja airport in addition to Lagos where they now operate.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, vice chairman of the House committee on Aviation, Rep Ahmed Rufai Chanchangi (CPC, Kaduna) said such action by the minister amounts to attempt to “suffocate the entire north which has no sea ports like the south.

“When we resume, a petition will be presented on the floor of the House over the issue. It is unfair for her to think like that because its only the airlines that can decide where they want to land and here Kano is the best option so why didn’t she ask them to land in Kano since it is the first airport in Nigeria and it used to service the whole West Africa. We will surely call her to order”, Chanchangi said.

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Also speaking on the matter, House deputy minority leader, Rep. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano) called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the minister to order because of her actions geared towards marginalising the north.

He said “There is no justification for her action except that she is a tribalist and no amount of grammar can explain her refusal to grant them the much needed permit because they have enough passengers coming to Abuja.

“Why must she insist that they  land in Enugu? Why does she want them to connect with local airlines to fly their passengers from Abuja to Enugu? This is a clear indication of sectional agenda the minister is implementing. She is hell bent on marginalising the north in the aviation industry?”

On his part, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano) said: “I understand there are certain government officials who are simply trying to bring bad blood between certain sections of the country and this government. She should resign because she is acting as a minister of certain section of Nigeria.”

Posted: at 29-08-2012 11:17 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming

Una don start. She has her reason. Why dnt u call her to answer all dis querry than to cause problem by talking abt maginalisation monkey. Boko haram family.

Posted: at 29-08-2012 12:20 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero