… Calls for Aviation Sector Reforms
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned rampant malpractices within Nigeria’s aviation sector, labeling the recent surge in domestic airfares as a crime against Nigerian domestic travelers.
The right group denounced the alleged involvement of airline ticketing staff and touts in creating an artificial scarcity of tickets, leading to exorbitant prices and challenging travel conditions.
In a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed deep concern over what it termed “unacceptable” disparities in airfares, highlighting that domestic ticket prices have exceeded regional fares.
This discrepancy, they argued, has significantly burdened Nigerian travelers, especially on high-demand routes like Lagos to Abuja, where flights are consistently shown as fully booked on airline portals, exacerbating ticket scarcity.
“The current situation where domestic airfares have surpassed regional tickets is unacceptable. Passengers reportedly face significant challenges in booking flights as airline portals consistently show fully booked flights, especially on popular routes like Lagos-Abuja,” HURIWA stated.
The association highlighted how airline ticketing officers allegedly collude with online touts to hoard tickets, which are then sold at exorbitant prices on the day of travel. This practice, they claimed, has led to instances where a return ticket from Lagos to Abuja can cost up to N500,000, with one-way tickets occasionally reaching N280,000.
“During peak travel periods, such as the recent Eid-El-Kabir holiday, the situation worsened, with passengers paying exorbitant sums even for short flights, such as “a Kano-Abuja flight reportedly sold for N230,000 on Max Air.”
HURIWA condemned these practices as “rampant corruption involving airline staff and touts,” which has made travel exceedingly stressful for passengers. They emphasized the need for immediate action, calling for “the arrest and prosecution of those involved in this corrupt collaboration.” HURIWA also called for a comprehensive cleanup of the aviation industry, highlighting concerns about compromised airport security due to the presence of touts.
HURIWA further connected this crisis to the broader issue of governance in the aviation sector. The prominent and leading civil rights advocacy group criticized the appointment of an “inexperienced” individual as Minister of Aviation, describing it as “political patronage” that has exacerbated industry problems.
They stressed the importance of appointing a professional with a deep understanding of the aviation sector to oversee reforms and ensure transparency and efficiency.
Regarding recent confusion over UAE visa requirements, HURIWA emphasized the need for transparency in international travel issues. They highlighted the UAE’s clarification that requirements such as a $10,000 bank balance and an N640,000 fee were not officially recognized, causing unnecessary panic among travelers.
HURIWA called for clear communication from government officials to avoid such incident in the future.
“The aviation sector should not be a place for political patronage. The appointment of a rookie, solely because he was the President’s campaign spokesman, is a disservice to Nigerians. We need a professional with a clear understanding of the aviation industry to oversee and reform this critical sector.
“Reports initially suggested that the UAE had lifted its three-year travel ban on Nigeria, only for the excitement to be dampened by subsequent revelations of stringent and costly requirements for visa applicants.
These include obtaining a Document Verification Number (DVN) at a cost of N640,000 and providing proof of a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.
“The UAE’s clarification that the DVN requirement is not officially recognized has added to the confusion, underscoring the need for clear and honest communication from government officials.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promised to seek further clarification on the matter, but the incident has already caused significant distress among prospective travelers”, HURIWA asserted.
In conclusion, HURIWA underscored the critical role of the aviation industry in Nigeria’s economy and urged the federal government to take decisive actions. They called for policies to support industry growth, including ensuring airlines’ access to foreign exchange, reducing taxes and charges, and implementing reforms to restore order and prevent exploitation of Nigerian travelers.
“The chaos in the aviation sector is mirrored in how international travel issues are managed. It is high time for a clean sweep of the aviation industry to restore order and ensure that Nigerians are not exploited both domestically and internationally,” HURIWA concluded.
