Ex-SenatorWants Airlines To List Operational Challenges

The former Senator that
represented Rivers West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, in the Seventh Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake, has urged operators of airlines in Nigeria to open up on what their operational difficulties are.
Ake, who made this known in a chat with The Tide at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa on Monday opined that airline operators have not come out to explain what those operational problems are.
“If you come to the airport, all you will hear is operational difficulties. We know that the value of Naira has depreciated against the US dollar, and we know that most of their works are done in dollar.
“Some of their workers are foreign and are expatriates whom they pay in dollars some times, they talk about aviation fuel, and some of these issues should have been anticipated and not allowed to get to the point of suspension of operations.
I know that some of them are trying to ensure that their services are not withdrawn completely”, he stated.
The former senator noted that many other countries of the world like America, Britain had gone through this experience and had overcome it.
On the recent request by President Muhanmadu Buhari to the National Assembly for emergency powers to tackle the economic challenges, Senator Ake said such request is in order and that it is a proof to the National Assembly that he believes in due process.
He said that the request was for the National Assembly to remove some impediments that will make it difficult for him to move as fast as possible as provided in the Constitution, adding that some Presidents in the past could neglect this, and still go ahead with their plans.
The former lawmaker, however, called on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to do everything possible to ensure that security is second to none in the state, so as to guarantee, progress, welfare and security.

Corlins Walter Amadi