ACN backs govt on air service pact with Britain

THE Federal Government's insistence on full respect for the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the country and Britain drew support from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday.In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party specifically hailed the way the issue had been handled by the Aviation Ministry, which responded to the shabby treatment meted out to Nigeria flag carrier, Arik Air, in Britain.'If British airlines must fly to Nigeria unhindered, under the framework of the BASA between the two countries, then Nigerian airlines must fly to Britain without hindrance. Any move to the contrary is an attempt by one party to gain an unfair advantage over the other and must be resisted', it said.ACN added: 'The explanation by the Minister of Aviation that the face-off between the two countries is more about respecting the spirit and letter of the BASA between them, than any other consideration, gladdens our hearts, as it shows that Nigerians, as well as the country's corporate citizens, can be sure that their government will stand up to defend their rights when necessary.'This is in consonance with what our party has always said: That the government must stoutly defend Nigerian citizens at home and abroad, to ensure that their dignity is not trampled upon anywhere. This is the only way our country and its citizens can stand tall in the comity of nations'.The party said the government must not relent in its on-going efforts to ensure that Nigerian airlines flying into Britain were not shortchanged and also use the opportunity presented by the development to carry out a holistic review of the Bilateral Air Service Agreements entered into with other countries, with a view to ensuring full respect for such pacts.It said at a time the Jonathan administration was 'committing many unforced errors, to use a tennis parlance, due to poorly-conceived policies, the action of the Aviation Ministry represents what his government can achieve if it will only allow itself to be guided by the national interest'.
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