Nigerian government May Sanction BA, Delta Airlines For Poor Services

By Leadership Newspaper

Nigerian Aviation minister, Babatunde Omotoba, has said that the Federal Government of Nigeria may sanction British Airways and Delta Airlines for the uncouth methods they have adopted in handling their Nigerian passengers in recent times. He said, this week, that the maltreatment was a clear violation of the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO).

According to the minister, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been directed to summon the affected airlines for allegedly using old aircraft on the Nigerian route without recourse to passengers’ safety.

Omotoba cautioned operating airlines in the country to fly top class aircraft and treat passengers with dignity, adding that BA alone made over N30 billion from ticket sales on the Nigerian route last year.

"Never mind, British Airways and Delta Airlines will soon hear from us. The development in recent times shows a lot of laxity on the part of both airlines and that is completely unacceptable. We must get the best of services," he said.

Following the recent development, the minister has directed all airlines to comply with safety procedures or close shop. He said that the federal government will not allow the lives of passengers to be endangered.

Omotoba disclosed that NCAA has also been instructed to establish a Customer Protection Directorate that will oversee the handling of passengers by foreign and local airlines.

He revealed that the federal government has approved the sum of N2 billion to build a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

"The second runway will cost between N4 billion and N8 billion. Approval of N2 billion has been given, and very soon we will embark on the construction," he disclosed.