By Rapheal
Copyright thesun
From George Onyejiuwa and Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State House of Assembly has directed the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to urgently interface with concerned agencies in the aviation industry over exorbitant price of flight ticket charged by airline operators plying the Owerri route.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent importance by the Minority leader (PDP) and member representing Aboh Mbaise Constituency, Princewill Amuchie, which was adopted by members, calling on Uzodinma to direct the Ministry of Transport to wade into the hike in flight ticket prices and subsequently interface with the necessary agencies to see to its reduction.
The prices, they said, have become outrageous, especially in Owerri, Imo State, asaying there was the need for reduction in other to make air travel more accessible to the people.
The motion, which was presented at the floor of the House on Tuesday, was co-sponsored by 16 other legislators.
Shedding more light on the motion, Amuchie who is the House Committee Chairman on Water Resources pointed out that flight ticket prices in the country, especially in Owerri, was becoming too exorbitant and needs to be looked into.
According to him, “The cost of flight ticket for the Owerri route is higher even when the distance and flight time are about the same with other destination. Hence this House is appealing that FAAN and the airline operators should be fair on our people in terms of flight ticket prices.
“This high ticket prices can be a barrier to air travel for many people, especially those with limited financial resources, while reducing flight ticket prices could boost economic activities in Imo State by making it easier for people to travel for their businesses, leisure and other purposes.
The Ministry of Transport should work with the regulatory bodies to establish price control or guidelines for airlines operating in Imo State and the government could offer incentives to airlines that reduce their prices such as tax breaks or subsidies, while more airlines could be encouraged to operate into Imo State to increase competition and drive down prices fortheir tickets.
Those in support of the motion included the Deputy minority leader, Clinton Amadi, Orsu constituency, Francis Agabiga, Oguta, Gilbert Nwosu, Ikeduru, and Johnleoba Iheoha, among others
They commended the initiator of the motion, saying that things are too expensive in Owerri, not just flight ticket price, which is not the situation in other South East States.
They reiterated that other agencies, especially the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission(FCCPC), would also be notified of the development in order to protect consumers.
