Yusuf Babalola
The federal government has disclosed its intention to investigate foreign airlines over closure of lower inventories that has led to astronomical increase in airfare.
Recently, the foreign airlines have shut lower inventories
against Nigerians over their trapped $550million with the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking when the president of the National Association of
Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Susan Akporiaye, visited the headquarters of
the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), over the
high airfare, the executive vice chairman and chief executive officer,
Babatunde Irukera, said that the commission would study the issues and engage
in necessary interventions which may include inviting parties and other stakeholders
involved.
Irukera, however, commended the association for its trust
and confidence in government structured competition and consumer protection
ecosystem.
He said, "We at FCCPC welcome your request for guidance
and will do our best to help determine possible steps to solve this problem
which affects Nigerians, but will first put up an investigation team to
determine what led to this impasse and possibly infractions against the
travelling public," the FCCPC boss assured.
Speaking earlier, the President of NANTA, said the visit to
the FCCPC was to seek guidance and next line of action over foreign airlines
high fares and closing of lower inventories to travel agencies across the
country.
The NANTA boss decried the foreign Airlines high handedness
on the matter which had created uproar among Nigerian travelling public and
also evidently led to the shutdown of many travel trade companies and
consequent job losses.
She further noted that her team requested the FCCPC to
assist NANTA and the Nigeria travelling public with remedies that will curb the
unfair practices in the downstream aviation sector and how best to articulate
its position going forward.
Akporiaye, however, disclosed that the association is
committed to protecting its members and their businesses from any form of
exploitation and unfair practices from any quarter.
"Sir, we strongly view from our professional experience
and knowledge of fare mechanism, that the reactions of foreign airlines on
trapped funds is grossly unfair to the Nigerian travelling public and gravely
threatens the survival of NANTA members," Akporiaye explained.
She said the visit to the FCCPC was for guidance and
solutions driven advice on the face off with foreign Airlines over unfair
airfare pricing in Nigeria. -
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