afam4eva:
Nwanna, you're spot on. It's only sectional if it favours the south-east. We've lost in almost everything in Nigeria.

Capital, we no get

Former capital nko, we no get

President, we never produce

Vice nko, who wan give you

Headquarter of anything, you're asking for too much

We get the smallest allocation

..the list goes on and on

The only thing that baffles me is that we have IGBO REPs in that seating yet nobody is bold enough to tell that Aboki to keep quiet and highlight all these points Aryzgreat mentioned above. Nobody can tell him to shut up, SMH

Onyocha: the question that must be asked is why didn't stella oduah send british airways,lufthansa,air france,delta,and KLM to Enugu? I sense the point the house of rep. is making is related to the religious identity of the 3 airlines sent to enugu.he may think oduah is making things unnecessarily difficult for them while she exempt other airlines from western nations.etihad,emirates and turkish airlines are from traditional muslim countries.I think if the minister is serious about air traffic in other part of the country,she should send british airways,lufthansa and air france to enugu or have a mix.things are easily (mis)interpreted in a religiously mixed country.so madam minister should have being smarter than this.or is madam minister receiving bribe from other airlines to destroy business for the 3 airlines sent to enugu? Only God knows!

Let us play the devil's advocate a little and assume that the minister actually wants to victimize the 3 airlines. So how is that in the interest of the rep? Or is he saying he is more concerned about the interest of the countries those airlines come from because they are fellow muslims, more than the interest of Nigeria his own country? Or are they settling him? He should tell us his real interest let us know

PointB:

How can you simply conclude it's not economically viable? Is there any study done to determine it's not economically viable? Beside, who interest are you protecting? The Nigerian people or the airlines?

If you any iota of knowledge about biz you wouldn't make the post you make above. How can you conduct a study for airlines on how to run their own biz? I guess I can come to your office to tell you how to do your job or biz?

tunnytox:

If you any iota of knowledge about biz you wouldn't make the post you make above. How can you conduct a study for airlines on how to run their own biz? I guess I can come to your office to tell you how to do your job or biz?

What are you saying my friend, I don't get you. Is the primary objective of government policy for foreigners to come and make money or for the citizens to be served? What is this talk about economic viability over Nigeria's interest? Is it compulsory they do business in Nigeria?

If they can't do what we want, they should fark off and stop occupying space joor!

thelastPope:

Let us play the devil's advocate a little and assume that the minister actually wants to victimize the 3 airlines. So how is that in the interest of the rep? Or is he saying he is more concerned about the interest of the countries those airlines come from because they are fellow muslims, more than the interest of Nigeria his own country? Or are they settling him? He should tell us his real interest let us know

Don't you think if this is all about the interest of the country and air traffic into enugu,it makes more sense to send british air ways to enugu?

I see foul play by the minister in this regardless if she is being bribed or not and regardless if the rep too is bribed or not.

Desola:

which she does but she is able to rebut that claim by saying that Enugu is equally a federal government international airport and in order to boost all aspects of the country's air traffic sector, it is only right to ask these carriers to consider flying to Enugu(although this is a veiled economic duress being exerted by her and geared toward diverting revenue to her side of the country). However, descerning minds can read through this for what it really is.

Jonasatan's government is generally a tribalistic one geared at spiting the Yorubas and Hausas in my candid opinion. The ibos are happy and careless about this because as they see it, the Yorubas and Hausas have been milking the country dry since their failed attempt at secession so they see this as their time to chop and Jonasatan is delivering that.

u are contradictory.

thelastPope:

What are you saying my friend, I don't get you. Is the primary objective of government policy for foreigners to come and make money or for the citizens to be served? What is this talk about economic viability over Nigeria's interest? Is it compulsory they do business in Nigeria?

If they can't do what we want, they should fark off and stop occupying space joor!

Why can't Arik fly to Glasgow? Why can't Air Nigeria be forced to land in Liverpool or even Newcastle?
These airlines can only fly to London to make profit and stay in biz, it's not rocket science to know this except you're being prejudiced.

Sometimes I wonder if the opinion of a greedy and farouky NASS member is needed in an economic revolution. I have reasons to believe the Ministers know the portfolio they spearhead than an average jack.

It's amazing hw peepz turn things

Where is ZUBY777? Ofcourse u know why?

tunnytox:

Why can't Arik fly to Glasgow? Why can't Air Nigeria be forced to land in Liverpool or even Newcastle?
These airlines can only fly to London to make profit and stay in biz, it's not rocket science to know this except you're being prejudiced.

If the british airways decides that Arik should land in liverpool or newscaster, then that's what will happen afterall those cities are in the UK and it's better than landing the plane in Afghanistan. They probably haven't doen this because there's still space in Heathrow and Gatwick.

FSU:

PH is not in the SE. True or false?

Viability of Airports has nothing to do with political regions . . . get that into your head. It is the not the politicians that decide which airports are viable and which are not. By your argument, those in the North can also say that Abuja is neither NW, or NN, or NE and so the ministry should force some of the same Airlines to fly an international airport in their area. Stop being mischievous and irrational.

Also, Port Harcourt is close enough to so many of the major cities in the East, just as they are from Enugu. Nothing currently stops them from flying from PH either. Continually demanding that the politicians play these games on your behalf works against, not for the South Eastern States. We already see that for the South South, the results of these policies have not been as expected.

Guys you are just becoming too tribalistic that nobody is reasoning well again. we need either PH or Enugu airport to be updgraded in the same way we have in Abuja and Lagos for economic growth. Have you been to PH airport before, do you know how many people who fly from PH to Lagos or Abuja to catch International flight, Do you know how many times people have missed their international flights just because local flights wwere delayed in PH or Enugue. Stop this Tribal stupidity and face the reality to grow Nigeria. Jonathan this Jonathan that if you are voted into power you will do worse because you are too tribalistic. my reference is to all those tribalistic guys in this NL, be you Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw etc.

afam4eva:
If the british airways decides that Arik should land in liverpool or newscaster, then that's what will happen afterall those cities are in the UK and it's better than landing the plane in Afghanistan. They probably haven't doen this because there's still space in Heathrow and Gatwick.

Why did Nigerian govt complained when Arik's Heathrow slot was revoked if it's that simple? And who tells you there's no more space in Abuja for these airlines to land?

Kobojunkie:

Viability of Airports has nothing to do with political regions . . . get that into your head. It is the not the politicians that decide which airports are viable and which are not. By your argument, those in the North can also say that Abuja is neither NW, or NN, or NE and so the ministry should force some of the same Airlines to fly an international airport in their area. Stop being mischievous and irrational.

Also, Port Harcourt is close enough to so many of the major cities in the East, just as they are from Enugu. Nothing currently stops them from flying from PH either. Continually demanding that the politicians play these games on your behalf works against, not for the South Eastern States. We already see that for the South South, the results of these policies have not been as expected.

Why are you changing goal post now. I don't you were saying that PH is in the east and so, people in the south-east should use that one.

tunnytox:

Why did Nigerian govt complained when Arik's Heathrow slot was revoked if it's that simple? And who tells you there's no more space in Abuja for these airlines to land?

isn't that what the minister is implying or do you now know more than the mister of aviation?

Onyocha:

Don't you think if this is all about the interest of the country and air traffic into enugu,it makes more sense to send british air ways to enugu?

I see foul play by the minister in this regardless if she is being bribed or not and regardless if the rep too is bribed or not.

What foul play are you talking about? They are applying for new slots not redirecting old slots. New slots should terminate in the airports that don't have allocations. You can then make a case for redirection of old slots later. Many of you comment like you haven't ever worked in cooporate organisations. There are procedures for these things. There are what you call best practices.

Don't people in the east fly Turkish, Emirate and whatever? What airlines do you think run the dubai, malaysia, singapore and asian routes?

tunnytox:

Why can't Arik fly to Glasgow? Why can't Air Nigeria be forced to land in Liverpool or even Newcastle?
These airlines can only fly to London to make profit and stay in biz, it's not rocket science to know this except you're being prejudiced.

Dude, no offense, where do you live? Becaue you keep making these funny posts.

Dude, England is the size of about the smallest state in Nigeria. From Lagos to Enugu is about 7 hours even on good roads. How can you make such comparisons? You are like that german fellow who asked a Nigerian is germany if he knows a guy in gabon called John. As if gabon is 3km from Nigeria.

They don't need to divert flight to liverpool or newcastle. They are just a stone throw apart compared to Nigerian cities

It is rather obvious, It's such a pity we do not have a national carrier that is powerful and greedy like BA, it would have forced those airlines to use other airports while it keeps Abj and Los for itself.

sheyguy:
+1000.
Customers should not be made to go through the stress of travelling long distances back from Enugu to their destination.

the consumers are igbos ok?

thelastPope:

Dude, no offense, where do you live? Becaue you keep making these funny posts.

Dude, England is the size of about the smallest state in Nigeria. From Lagos to Enugu is about 7 hours even on good roads. How can you make such comparisons? You are like that german fellow who asked a Nigerian is germany if he knows a guy in gabon called John. As if gabon is 3km from Nigeria.

They don't need to divert flight to liverpool or newcastle. They are just a stone throw apart compared to Nigerian cities

Dude stop making a f.00l of yourself England is NOT the size of a smallest state in Nigeria, I'll give you sometime to consult your atlas and come back here.

tunnytox:

If you any iota of knowledge about biz you wouldn't make the post you make above. How can you conduct a study for airlines on how to run their own biz? I guess I can come to your office to tell you how to do your job or biz?

In the same vein my 'knowledgeable' friend, foreign airlines cannot dictate to Nigeria how to run our Aviation sector. They should accept what we dish or ship out! Nigeria is not lacking in airline operator, new entrant should use other airport. Unless of course you are motivated by ethnic agenda, and your sole interest is ensuring other regions are not opened up for investment!

tunnytox:

Dude stop making a f.00l of yourself England is NOT the size of a smallest state in Nigeria, I'll give you sometime to consult your atlas and come back here.

Dude, let me hear word. London to Liverpool is around 212km. Not even up to Lagos to Benin which is 300km and they have superb roads and speed trains. You want to compare England to Nigeria? Na wa for u oh!

Long story short, let the free market decide.

If foreign airlines are interested in applying for licenses to fly into Abuja and you deny them, trying to force them to fly into Enugu instead, that is wrong.

Onyocha:

Don't you think if this is all about the interest of the country and air traffic into enugu,it makes more sense to send british air ways to enugu?

I see foul play by the minister in this regardless if she is being bribed or not and regardless if the rep too is bribed or not.

I dont agree sending established airline to Enugu is the way to do it. Those airlines might have signed series of agreement with the government, and some of those agreement might not allow for such move. However, it is fair to suggest that new airlines seeking entrant into the Nigeria market considers Enugu/SE axis. It's our duty as Nigerians to promote this ideas, or support it when muted.

I am just trying to understand why some us are siding with the airline on issue that have benefit for Nigeria as whole. It's a tad sad!

Until we start letting the market decide, we will not develop as a nation. I believe if it was economically viable for the airlines to fly from Enugu nobody would tell them to go their.

A simple lay mans way to look at a viable route if airline x lifts Nigerians from Enugu to uk, would it be able to fill that same flight back to Enugu.

ekt_bear: Long story short, let the free market decide.

If foreign airlines are interested in applying for licenses to fly into Abuja and you deny them, trying to force them to fly into Enugu instead, that is wrong.

It is not wrong. Some just mention GLO's issue in Ghana. Ghana acted in their strategic interest by ensuring GLO spreads out across their country. It's Nigeria strategic interest to 'force' some of their airlines to operate in other cities/regions. If we don't have a good number of airlines operating from abuja/lagos axis, then we can make such case (even though we only be protecting the airline's interest as against Nigeria's).

A-ZeD:
Until we start letting the market decide, we will not develop as a nation. I believe if it was economically viable for the airlines to fly from Enugu nobody would tell them to go their.

A simple lay mans way to look at a viable route if airline x lifts Nigerians from Enugu to uk, would it be able to fill that same flight back to Enugu.

Is there any reliable data to suggest otherwise? Besides is UK the only destination for international flights?

I really don't understand the ministers logic here. Abuja is a rapidly growing city with rising demand from abroad for direct flight access. To say people should first go to Enugu is just plain dumb. Why can't we ever do things for the benefit of the whole country and keep out ethnic bias

So there are at least two possible explanations for her behavior:

1. It is in Nigeria's strategic interest
2. She is pursuing a sectional agenda as the rep alleges, forcing business to setup airlines in a place where they have zero interest

So, what is the argument for (1) being more likely than (2)?

In particular, how is it in Nigeria's strategic interest to block an airline from flying the Abuja route (which presumably those two foreign airlines have identified as among the most lucrative possible routes)?

A-ZeD:
Until we start letting the market decide, we will not develop as a nation. I believe if it was economically viable for the airlines to fly from Enugu nobody would tell them to go their.

+1

If flying into Enugu was economically viable, then nobody would have to twist anyone else's arm to setup an airline there.

thelastPope:

Dude, let me hear word. London to Liverpool is around 212km. Not even up to Lagos to Benin which is 300km and they have superb roads and speed trains. You want to compare England to Nigeria? Na wa for u oh!

I wouldn't want to derail the thread but to educate others Nigeria is approx. 9 times bigger than England but UK is made up of 3 other countries apart from England so where did you get it from that England is the size of a smallest state in Nigeria?

I will not continue to join issues with those who are blinded by their tribal sentiments I have made enough points on why the minister decision is wrong in the end I believe common sense will prevail.