Mr Keyamo added that no local airline would be designated as a national airline, stating that the government would establish a proper national carrier.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing the controversial Nigeria Air deal initiated by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika.
“There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report,” the minister said in an interview on Channels TV Politics Today on Wednesday.
Mr Keyamo added that no local airline would be designated as a national airline, stating that the government would establish a proper national carrier.
Keyamo said the ministry will commence the publication of reports of flight cancellations and delays by local airlines from next week.
“On a weekly basis, we will start publishing the list of flights that were delayed or cancelled and the reasons and action taken. We will start publishing them starting next week. We will name and shame erring airlines,” he stated.
There has been a spate of delayed and cancelled flights without explanations or compensation in the country’s aviation sectors in the recent past.
Keyamo said the issue of delayed and cancelled fights was delicate and would be handled carefully so as not to discourage potential investors.
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He added the ministry was ready to enforce laws on flight delays and compensation packages for customers as stipulated by international laws.
He said, “I feel the pains of Nigerians who go through the pangs of flight delays. I see a lot of messages on my phone concerning it and it is sad.
“It is difficult and you could see that all my predecessors in office could not address that issue, but I am trying to get a reasonable bend on this issue. Do you sanction the airlines by closing them down? That would create more chaos because we don’t have enough local airlines. How do you proceed with all of that?
“And that is why we have to handle it delicately because what we are trying to solve should not be escalated. The most important thing is that the customers must have succour. We must take steps to alleviate that pain.
“There are flight cancellations all over the world but in other climes, they keep to the rules on how to treat customers and refunds. We have to enforce those rules and that’s what we are thinking.”
He disclosed that the government had engaged a couple of insurance companies to insure passengers and their flight tickets.
“They will be present at every airport in the country and will swing into action whenever there is a flight delay or cancellation to ensure passengers are not stranded,” Keyamo said.
“Do not forget that it is a bit more complicated than that and to be honest, sometimes we are complicit. It is not always the fault of the airlines, weather, or bird strikes. It is the responsibility of FAAN to clear those birds because the airlines paid for parking space and utility. So, we should make the atmosphere good for them. Sometimes, it is the lack of jet AI fuel and other times, it is the airlines’ fault.”
The minister added that the movement of the FAAN headquarters would save the government and the people of Nigeria millions wasted on air tickets by officials of the authority, who had to commute from Lagos to Abuja and back.
Keyamo said the whole issue was compounded by the fact that FAAN was not yet digitalized.
“You see them flying every day to and fro Abuja to get one file signed. They fly every day back and forth. In one year, they spent close to half a billion naira on flight tickets. N450m on flight tickets alone,” he said.
