* Otunba Runsewe
The Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe has commended and also thrown his weight behind the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for suspending the recalcitrant Turkish Airlines from Nigerian air space for not bringing passengers into Nigeria together with their checked-in baggage.
The airline was also hammered by the regulatory body for not operating the route with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.
The Acting Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Abdullahi Sidi, had in a letter dated December 11,2019 and addressed to the Country General Manager, Turkish Airlines, said that the company has until Monday, December 16,2019 to either remain in business or close shop in Nigeria.
“These incidences which have been going on for over two weeks, have become bad that the most recent flights arrived without more than 85 per cent of passengers’ baggage on board. “Our airport authority has been facing serious crises controlling the passengers at the airport whenever they arrive without their baggage. This issue has made passengers carry out several mob actions at our airport and it is great threat to our airport facilities. While regretting that series of meetings NCAA held with the airline have so far failed to yield a positive development,” Sidi had said in the statement.
Runsewe, who described the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) intervention as bold and courageous, added that time, has come for foreign airlines and other service providers in Nigeria to respect and treat Nigerians decently.
Recalled that NCAA on Thursday, after several complains from Nigerians travelling public, suspended Turkish Airline for giving Nigerians, who travel on board the carrier nightmares by not flying in their luggage with them, thus infringing on the rights of Nigerian passengers, who patronise the airline.
Otunba Runsewe stated that he was of the opinion that strong statements and punitive measures as rolled out by NCAA would serve as a deterrent to other airlines operating in Nigeria, who only believes that Nigerians money is their prime focus and not service to the people.
“I wish to align myself with this courageous and bold statement by NCAA suspending Turkish Airline from flying into Nigeria and pray that other arms of government with over sight functions over Foreign Service institutions and operators should boldly come out to protect Nigerians from foreign organisations which must treat us with respect,” the NCAC DG said.
Otunba Runsewe further stated that NCAC would collaborate with other Federal Government institutions to ensure that Nigerians are not only protected but that their culture is also respected.
He said that he would now focus on another foreign airline that he did not name, which according to him the Supreme Court of Nigeria recently found guilty of de-boarding a Nigerian student and to which the Apex Court ruled that the airline’s aircraft must be impounded if they disregard to pay relevant fines to the students and his family.
“As much as we want to see foreigners do business in Nigeria, it must be done within the ambience of law and the international best practices. I find it very sad and disturbing that most of these foreign operators would obey the laws of their lands but will come to Nigeria to take advantage of our people, so i think that time has come for us to demand that the laws of Nigeria be respected and our people given the utmost respect from the operators of these foreign airlines,” Runsewe said.
Runsewe, who is also the President African region for the World Craft Council (WCC) further called for the speedy establishment of a national carrier to arrest this un-complementary attitude towards Nigerians.
He urged Nigerians to be bold to report any un-seeming attitude and lack of courtesy from any international airline operator to relevant authorities.
