Oshiomhole saga: It’s Time to sanction erring airlines – Agbomhere

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been urged to sanction erring airlines. The South South Zonal Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Blessing Agbomhere, made the call in a statement on Thursday. Nigeria’s largest flag carrier, Air Peace, and the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, were yesterday locked in a war […]

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been urged to sanction erring airlines.

The South South Zonal Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Blessing Agbomhere, made the call in a statement on Thursday.

Nigeria’s largest flag carrier, Air Peace, and the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, were yesterday locked in a war of words over an incident at the Murtala Mohammad Airport, MMA Terminal 1, Lagos, which degenerated into a fracas between some passengers and the airline staff.

While the airline alleged that the senator disrupted its 6:30 am flight to Abuja, Oshiomhole said the commotion was sparked by Air Peace’s decision to prevent passengers from boarding, while allegedly reselling seats at inflated prices to others on the spot.

Weighing in, Agbomhere described the attitude of Air Peace as “unjust, dubious and in violation of the principles guiding operations in the aviation industry,” adding that “it is a continuation of the Airline’s lawless and chaotic operations which should no longer be tolerated by Nigerians.”

The statement said: “I am compelled to address the distressing incident involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace Airline, seeing that the Airline is becoming above the law and notorious for “eye service” humanitarian services.

“There are several reports by Nigerians against the airline but these complaints keep being swept under the carpet and thereby emboldening the airline to continue acting as if there is no regulator in the sector in Nigeria. This has to stop and if it takes the poor treatment of Senator Oshiomhole to stop this nefarious act, then I’m sure that even the former Governor of Edo state is willing to make that sacrifice.

“While calling for a total overhaul of NCAA, I am also issuing a one week ultimatum from the day of the release of this statement to the management of Air Peace to take action by carrying out an immediate investigation into the matter and sanctioning all its staff involved in the incident.

“The Airline should also tender an unreserved apology to Senator Oshiomhole for the distress and embarrassment caused him and ensure that it improves its customer care service for the interest of the flying masses.”

Agbomhere called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, to ensure that the NCAA is mandated to carry out the necessary investigations on the matter in order to save Nigeria’s local air services from being turned into a bastion of inefficiency and corruption.