In the aviation industry in Nigeria, it is common knowledge that foreign airlines

always foist arbitrary fares on Nigerians. They know Nigerians travel a lot and generally do

not question fares they are asked to pay. This informs the relatively high fares they are made to pay for international travels, which many consider highest in the world. This is the main reason big airlines try to outwit one another in the Nigerian market.

Even within the sub-region, passengers from Nigeria pay high fares to other parts of the

world. For instance, where it costs a Nigerian $9846.19 to buy British Airways first class

return ticket to London Heathrow, a distance of 5001km from Lagos, for a flight not more

than five hours 55mins, his counterpart in Ghana pays as low as  $4,904.14 for a similar ticket for a flight that is an hour more, and a longer journey of 5096.79km.

It is the same situation with other foreign airlines flying into the country. Virgin Atlantic

Airways’ fare in its Upper Class, highest in the airline is #821,000 on the Lagos-London-Lagos route,

while the same ticket for Accra-London-Accra is #385,000. For Lufthansa Airlines, its First

Class ticket for Lagos –Frankfurt-Lagos is #798,559.30, while Accra-Frankfurt- Accra for

the same ticket is #451,040.30. In the same vein, while KLM charges #638,365.30 for its

highest class on the Lagos-Amsterdam-Lagos route, same ticket sells for #485,761 on Accra-

Amsterdam-Accra.

Many wonder how the airlines arrive at the fares they charge. Consequently, Nigerian

travelers in the country have always cried foul over what they perceive as exploitative

by foreign airlines, but the Federal Government now appears to be saying enough is

enough. Beyond the issue of fare is the general poor service that is the hallmark of

treatment meted out to Nigerian travelers.

THE LATE PRESIDENT OF GABON FUNDED SARKOZY’S CAMPAIGN.

Gabon’s late president, Omar Bongo funded Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign,

a former official said, in a book to be published in France. Mike Jocktane, who was a

close aid to Bongo from 2005 and chief of staff in his office from 2009, confirmed claims

that the former strongman sent briefcases stuffed with millions in cash to French

politicians. He added that the practice continued after Sarkozy’s election.

“Omar Bongo helped finance Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign,” Jocktane told

writers, Xavier Harel and Thomas Hofnung, whose book “The Scandal of the ill-gotten

Gains” will be published in Paris very soon.

When contacted by AFP, a global news agency, Sarkozy’s office refused to comment.

“When a French politician comes to Gabon, we say “He’s come for his briefcase.” The late

president Bongo was very generous with French leaders,” Jocktane said, according to the

book.

Robert Bourgi, a notorious bag man for France’s interests in its former African colonies,

said that he had brought Sarkozy’s predecessor Jacques Chirac millions of dollars in cash

from African dictators.

Olakunle O. Bolrarinwa,

Is a Nightline Family Member Of The Voice Of America {VOA}.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Share Link: