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“BASA not favourable to domestic airlines” – Bush-Alebiosu

By on November 8, 2013

The House of Representatives said on Wednesday that the Bilateral Air Services Agreements signed between Nigeria and other foreign countries were stifling the operations of the local aviation industry.

It also observed that most of the BASA were not domesticated by Acts of the National Assembly.

In a resolution on a motion moved by Mr. Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu, the House called for an audit of all the BASA between Nigeria and other countries with a view to streamlining and domesticating same, where necessary.

The House directed the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies, in collaboration with the House Committee on Treaties/Agreements, to complete the audit within 60 days.

Bush-Alebiosu claimed that the existing BASA did not favour domestic airlines, but were tailored to favour foreign airlines flying into the country.

The lawmaker argued that the situation was such that “foreign airlines are favoured to come in and take over the business of the local aviation industry.”

He cited the case of Ethiopian Airlines, which had been granted the permission to fly directly into the Enugu airport.

“What this means is that our local business is being taken away. In order to survive, local airlines try to cut corners. This is part of the reason why a lot of things are not working in the sector,” Bush-Alebiosu stated.

There was no further debate on the motion, as members passed it in a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

[Punch]