By Kenneth Ehigiator

The Federal Government, yesterday, flayed allegations that it had ordered some foreign airlines to stop operating into Abuja and Kano international airports, saying the accusation gave the impression that it was playing ethnic politics with the issue.

It was alleged that Princess Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister, ordered Emirates, Etihad and Turkish airlines to stop operating into both airports, and to use Enugu instead. However, Princess Oduah, in Abuja, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

Princess Oduah said the 11 airports currently being reconstructed and remodelled simultaneously across the country included Kano, Kaduna, Yola and Jos, wondering why anyone would insinuate she was anti-North.

She said: “Our attention has been drawn to publications in some sections of the media to the effect that Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, ordered that some foreign airlines, particularly Emirates, Etihad and Turkish airlines be stopped or prevented from operating into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

“There is no truth whatsoever to these publications as the minister had at no time even attempted to prevent the said airlines from operating into the said destinations. To the contrary, the minister has been an advocate of allowing all the international airports in the country to operate direct international flights.

“Emirates Airline has never applied for any permit to operate into either Abuja or Kano international airports. Anyone, including the airline concerned, with contrary documentation should please make such available to the general public.

“Etihad that was supposed to commence operations from Abuja in line with an old MoU of 2003 with the UAE has refused to do so, but rather insisted on starting from Lagos, thereby necessitating an amendment of the MoU in 2012 to accommodate their desire.

“Turkish Airline had in fact applied to operate into Abuja and Kano, an application which the minister approved without any hesitation. In fact, IRS Airlines was nominated on August 1, 2012 to work with Turkish Airline in this regard.”

“In view of the foregoing, we make haste to declare that we have no records anywhere indicating that the Aviation Minister either stopped any airline from operating into Abuja and Kano or forced any particular one to operate into the Enugu International Airport.

“To be sure, the Minister has been making strenuous efforts to convince KLM, in conjunction with the Kano State government, to continue to operate into Kano airport for which it had earlier stopped its operations.”