Photo: Vanguard

Poverty causing crime in Nigeria

Some of the foreign airlines flying into the Federal Capital Territory Abuja have started re-organising their businesses to accommodate the new challenges as the security situation worsens.

Consequently, while some are considering stopping their operations to Abuja, the four foreign airlines that operate flights to Abuja have stopped their crew and aircraft from sleeping over in Abuja.

Before now, all foreign airlines operating to the city accommodated their crew in five star hotels in the city. However, the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially in the North reinforced their decisions to land their aircraft in Abuja, disembark passengers, while the crew are either brought back to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Accra in Ghana, and Equitorial Guinea.

A top official of one of the European carriers who pleaded anonymity in Lagos yesterday confirmed that the airlines were spending additional money due to security challenges adding that their crew members refused to stay over in Abuja due to the situation.

He also noted that the situation has negatively affected the airlines schedule even as cost of operation to Abuja has risen drastically.

There are also indications that one of the United States carriers designated to Abuja might stop flying to the city soon due to security reasons and low traffic on the route.

Apart from the delay encountered before they get to Abuja to operate their flight, the airlines also miss out in connecting their passengers to other destinations from their hubs.

For now, airlines like British Airways fly to their passengers in Abuja, while the aircraft and crew are brought to Lagos where a new set of crew take control of the airplane, fly it back to Abuja, pick passengers and depart to their destination.

Already, the airlines are counting their cost, as they have have to spend more on fuel, coupled with the risk of having to shuttle between the Lagos, Port Harcourt, Equatorial Guinea, Accra and Abuja.

Currently, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa German Airlines and Delta Airlines operate flights to Abuja.