WORLD CUP: OUR AIRLINES BYPASSED AGAIN

The world cup has started in Brazil with qualifying teams arriving proudly in their respective flag carriers or chartered aircraft domiciled in their country. On arrival, the cameras are beamed at the aircraft front exit door where the air stair is positioned and flag emblazoned. It was in excitement I watched the arrival of different countries on their respective carriers until the documentary got to our Super Eagles. I initially thought it was an error when they announced the arrival of the Nigerian team, because of the American flag proudly emblazoned on the aircraft’s fuselage. Alas, I was wrong. Shortly after, Team USA proudly touched down in an aircraft with the same flag. We have invested a lot of fortune in qualifying and preparing for this tournament, while we also lost precious lives of fans that were blown away at different viewing centres across the Northern part of the country by insurgents. In the end, it is the American and Ethiopian airlines that reaped from where their government, corporate organisations and fans did not sow. A flag, despite its simplicity, on a massive structure like an aircraft’s fuselage, seen by millions of people can eclipse an impressive aircraft design. It is an identity, mark of place, pride and strength. It is an expression of a nation’s capabilities wherever it touches down. At the last tournament in South Africa four years ago, it was providence that gave us the pride of a Nigerian carrier taking the team to the tournament. It was the only option left for Government after a foreign airline provided an aircraft much older than the oldest aircraft in Arik fleet. The aircraft broke down at the eleventh hour. A Nigerian airline that was initially overlooked redeemed our image, but we lost the funds paid to the foreign airline. To add salt to injury; the undemocratic Nigerian Football & Other Sports Supporters Club (NFSSC) that is funded perpetually with handouts from Federal Government, while also getting support from different Nigerian corporate organisations, which has also given a lifeline to the club that has a leadership model fashioned after the one used by one of our political parties called “Oga so pe” (oga said), has consistently used our home grown funds to fly foreign carriers. They recently flew two hundred supporters to Brazil on Ethiopian Airlines (ET), also bypassing our carriers like their Siamese twin, Nigeria Football Federation. A Nigerian carrier could have taken them straight to Brazil without a stopover. Our carriers are struggling financially, while the Ethiopian carrier recently declared record revenue of $2.3 billion. ET is now the most profitable carrier in Africa. The airline’s revenue is the 37th highest in the world. ET has 37 frequencies into Nigeria alone, excluding that of ASKY airline, pseudo owned by Ethiopia. The airline takes everything away from Nigeria, while investing in airlines in Togo and Malawi, bypassing our carriers in preference to the ministry of aviation extra frequencies and entries. “Nigeria ro nu” (think) A phased implementation of a “Fly Nigeria Act” is imperative for the development of the industry and reduction in capital flight. It will, by law, whip people and organisations into line to the benefit of all Nigerians.