Senate Aviation Committee Chair Frowns At High Airfares, Picketing By Labour

The Chairperson, Senate Committee On Aviation, Senator Biodun Olujimi says there is a need to reduce air fares in Nigeria to enable more Nigerians travel by air.
Delivering her Goodwill Message at the FAAN National Aviation Conference (FNAC) 2023, which started today at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Senator Olujimi noted that high airfares constitute a challenge to Nigeria’s aviation industry, which she said provides significant benefits to Nigeria’s economy and contributes 4% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She however, noted that the industry had not been able to reach its expectations because of inadequacy of infrastructure and other problems one of which she said is picketing of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Olujimi said there should be a better way of settling labour issues other than picketing, particularly in the aviation industry, adding that “the time is ripe for the unions to know that there are certain industries where picketing cannot be allowed.”
She equally identified constant destructions and demolitions around the airports as another problem that had bedeviled the industry in recent times.
“The government should be up and doing and ensure the issue of encroachments is looked at,” she said.
She stressed the need to avoid a “situation where government sits down and things get out of hand before action is taken”.
Olujimi commended Nigeria’s aviation agencies over their efforts to improve the industry.