The Nigerian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marketing of Emirates Airlines’ charter flights has been described as sabotage of the nation’s economic interest.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji berated the Nigerian Embassy for urging stranded Nigerians in the UAE to buy the tickets.
He recalled that the House of Representatives had mandated the Committee on Aviation to liaise with the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, the Ministries of Aviation and Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to ensure that only indigenous airlines carry out subsequent evacuation of stranded Nigerians abroad.
He said it was regrettable that Emirates has continued to evacuate stranded Nigerians from UAE with the active connivance of the officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to the detriment of the earlier agreement.
While condemning the continued use of foreign airlines for the evacuation flights, he stated that it was robbing the indigenous airlines the little opportunity of earning revenue at this period of severe financial meltdown.
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“All over the world, embassies and diplomats strive to promote and protect the economic interests of their nations but it is unfortunate that this has not been the case with our Embassy in UAE” Nnaji said.
He called for serious investigations into the roles of the embassy officials in Abu Dhabi and if found culpable, severe sanctions should be slammed against them.
He equally urged the PTF and Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation as well as their agencies to step in and do whatever is required to safeguard the earlier agreement reached on this matter.
Honourable Nnaji represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the House of Representatives.
