Nigerian reps lobby for Emirates, Qatar airlines

The house of representatives on Thursday urged the federal government to grant Qatar Airways landing rights to operate at the Malam Aminu Kano International and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International airports.

It also urged the government to lift the suspension on the operations of the Emirates Airline to land on the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

This was sequel to a motion sponsored by Aliyu Sani Madaki and 35 others on the need to grant passenger and freighter rights to Qatar Airways for the Kano and Abuja international airports routes.

The motion also sought to lift the suspension of flight operations of Emirates Airline to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

According to Madaki, commercial landing rights are granted to some international airlines, including Emirates Airline to operate flights from the Kano airport.

“The house is further aware of an appeal by the Embassy of Nigeria in Doha, Qatar for Qatar Airways to be allowed passenger and freighter rights to Malam Aminu Kano and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe international airports,” Madaki added.

He observed that the government was not taking advantage of granting flying rights to the Qatar Airways.

“Granting flying rights to the Qatar Airways will open up business opportunities and bring about the necessary investments to stimulate Nigeria’s economy.

“The government of Qatar, through its Qatar Investment Authority, which is the equivalent of Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority, has the mandate to invest in any foreign country in the areas of agriculture and agro allied industries, telecommunications, energy, education, real estate and banking.

“The areas of investments mentioned are realisable if Qatar Airways is allowed flying rights to Kano and Abuja international airports,” he said.

He expressed concern over the information that the landing rights, earlier granted to the Emirates Airline for commercial flights to Kano airport was suspended on the grounds of security challenges.

He said the airline had taken all necessary steps such as sale of tickets to commerce operations.

“Internal security challenges had never prevented international flight operations, given that flights still operate in Lebanon, Syria among others, in spite of the serious security challenges in those countries.

“In spite of the claim of security challenges, other international flight operations are being carried out, including Turkish Air and other airlines too numerous to mention,” he said.

The house also called on the Federal Government to consider the current situation in Bama, Ngala and Kala-Balge local government areas of Borno and provide security.

The house also asked for additional manpower to the areas, to rid the areas of the activities of Boko Haram.

The call followed Rep. Abdulrahaman Terab’s motion on the urgent need to reclaim the areas and others around Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge federal constituency from Boko Haram insurgents.

Terab called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to liaise with their Cameroonian counterparts to provide relief materials to the refugees.

He said those displaced were currently in Fotokol, Kusuri and Garwa in the French-speaking nation.