We Won’t Allow Foreign Airlines Treat Nigerians With Disdain – Sirika

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Saturday said that no foreign airline operator would henceforth be allowed to treat Nigerian travelers with disdain.

Sirika stated this in Abuja in a statement signed by James Odaudu, the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, in which the minister warned other airline operators to take a cue from the recent Turkish Airlines’ experience.

“Following the threat by the nation’s aviation regulators to ban its operations in Nigeria, Turkish Airlines last night flew into Abuja with a bigger aircraft A330 as against the usual smaller B737.

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“Officials of the airline, alarmed by the prospect of losing their Nigerian market, had rushed into a meeting with the Nigerian authorities to pledge total commitment,” he said.

According to the minister, the organisation had tried to comply with the conditions given to it to continue its operations in Nigeria after it has been notorious for the shabby treatment of Nigerian travelers over time.

While noting that such behaviours by the airline had always given rise to security issues at the airports with protests by affected passengers, Sirika, however, said the airline had now shown commitment to improving its treatment of Nigerian travelers by operating a bigger and more comfortable aircraft.

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Sirika, therefore, promised Nigerians better flying experiences as the nation’s aviation industry was set to undergo major developments in the coming years with the implementation of the stakeholder-developed roadmap.