The
Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, on Monday said agencies under the
ministry providing services to any airline operator that is indebted to it
would be sanctioned.
While
calling for the grounding of the operations of any airline operator owing
government, he said the period of owing the government was over, adding that
all debts must be collected by the agencies.
“I
will sanction any agencies providing services to debtor domestic airline
operators.” he said.
It
was gathered that the debt profile, which the domestic operators owed
government runs into billions of naira.
Chidoka,
made the disclosure in Abuja, while fielding questions from journalists at the
launch of the Ministry’s Passengers Service Portal (APSP), and the helpline as
a platform for Nigerians to have unhindered access to the ministry’s services
in real time basis as done in developed parts of the world.
The
portal, he said marks a new beginning for the ministry to begin to collect data
designed for the overall improvement of services at the airport.
The
objective, the minister said is bring Nigeria at par with international
best practices in airport service delivery.
To
test the efficacy of the helpline, Chidoka, put a call through to one of the
Contact Centres (CC), and immediately got a response to his enquiries on the
day’s flight schedules and other relevant information needed by him.
According
to him, the perception of Nigerian airports is hampered by the lack of
visibility on information needed by people who use the airports, adding: “This
portal has information about searching for flights, arrival and departure time.
“The portal will show all the airlines that fly Nigerian routes, their schedule time of departure, arrivals and in bound flights. This will put pressure on the airlines to know how they are performing.
“Now all the airports have websites on this portal all airlines have websites, it will even show hospitals and hotels that are closer to the airports.”
He added: “We are hoping that all of these will create a satisfied passenger system that will bring Nigeria to the top of the aviation ranking globally. Today, we urge all Nigerians to go and use it to make sure that they get the best in the industry.”
Passengers, he stated, can now access the operations of all airlines through their websites to find out the status of their aircraft maintenance status with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), adding that this would assist passengers make conscious decision and create an industry that guarantees safety and security for all passengers.
While acknowledging the importance of safety and security in airport operations, he said: “Airports are not about buildings and aircraft, they are about human being.
“The portal will show all the airlines that fly Nigerian routes, their schedule time of departure, arrivals and in bound flights. This will put pressure on the airlines to know how they are performing.
“Now all the airports have websites on this portal all airlines have websites, it will even show hospitals and hotels that are closer to the airports.”
He added: “We are hoping that all of these will create a satisfied passenger system that will bring Nigeria to the top of the aviation ranking globally. Today, we urge all Nigerians to go and use it to make sure that they get the best in the industry.”
Passengers, he stated, can now access the operations of all airlines through their websites to find out the status of their aircraft maintenance status with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), adding that this would assist passengers make conscious decision and create an industry that guarantees safety and security for all passengers.
While acknowledging the importance of safety and security in airport operations, he said: “Airports are not about buildings and aircraft, they are about human being.
“We
want to focus on what creates mobility and what makes the passengers to move
freely at the airport.”
With this portal, cases of lower corruption and underhand intrigues at the airports can be reported anonymously, people harassing passengers, extorting and opening bags will be made to face the consequences.
He added that it is now mandatory for passengers to enter the airport with an ID, as any passenger that misbehaves at the airport will be blocked from boarding any flight in the country.
In a remark, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who was represented by Director in the ministry, Mr. Yemi Fashedru, said the hosting of the portal, which is a collaborative effort between both ministries is designed towards improving services at the airports and empowering air passengers with accurate data with which they can plan their journey.
With this portal, cases of lower corruption and underhand intrigues at the airports can be reported anonymously, people harassing passengers, extorting and opening bags will be made to face the consequences.
He added that it is now mandatory for passengers to enter the airport with an ID, as any passenger that misbehaves at the airport will be blocked from boarding any flight in the country.
In a remark, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who was represented by Director in the ministry, Mr. Yemi Fashedru, said the hosting of the portal, which is a collaborative effort between both ministries is designed towards improving services at the airports and empowering air passengers with accurate data with which they can plan their journey.
She
called on other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to emulate the
aviation sector by embracing ICT to deliver efficient online and real time
services to Nigerians.
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