Senate backs Aviation ministry over dispute with UK

The National Assembly has backed the Ministry of Aviation for insisting that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom should be renegotiated.The President of the Senate, David Mark, at the inauguration of the revamped international terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday, said the Senate would back the Federal Government to transform the aviation sector.The ministry had disagreed with the British aviation authorities over some contentious issues, including denial of slots to a Nigerian airline at the London Heathrow Airport and the alleged overcharging of Nigerian passengers by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.Mark told the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, I am pleased and appreciate your stand over the British Airways issue. By your courage and attitude, you have made Nigerians proud.For transformation to be meaningful, we must be disciplined as to how we use the facilities installed at the airport.He added that the National Assembly would give all the necessary support to the ministry to make sure that the transformation agenda of the Federal Government yielded fruits in the sector.The President of the Senate said there was the need to sustain the remodelled terminal.Mark said, There is a lot to be explored in the countrys aviation sector. We must endeavour to keep the terminals neat and allow all the facilities to work.I know you have the vision, courage and the determination to bring our airports to international standards.In her remarks, Oduah said the nations airports were about to witness the transformation they never experienced for a long time.Meanwhile, the administrative appeal panel set up to look into the legality and fairness of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authoritys investigative report, which indicted British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways of colluding to increase Passenger Fuel Surcharge arbitrarily on the Nigeria-UK route, has begun its work.
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