Imported User:
The Senate yesterday directed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to create a dedicated power line to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja without further delay.
Also, seven foreign airlines-Egypt Air, Qatar Air, Air Italia, Air Morocco, Ethiopian Air and Air Rwanda may have accepted the accusation of tax evasion, but gave conditions for refunds.
The Senate gave the orders against the backdrop of the constant power outage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the latest being last Saturday, which trapped passengers of British Airways.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, gave the order after a meeting with the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, PHCN and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials in Abuja.
Uzodinma also mandated PHCN to establish its station at the airport with full compliment of staff.
The meeting was called to address the circumstances surrounding the sudden blackout, which was described as a national embarrassment.
It could be recalled that more than 200 passengers on British Airways flight from London were said to have been trapped on board for over one hour on Saturday due to blackout.
The incident caused members of Senate Committee on Aviation to make an unplanned visit to the airport for on the spot assessment.
Unsatisfied with the explanation offered by FAAN Regional Manager, Mr. Chris Bature, Uzodinma invited the management of PHCN, FAAN, National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and Julius Berger Plc to seek ways and means to put a permanent stop to power outage at the nation’s airports.
Uzodinma described consistent power outage at the country’s airports as national embarrassment and vowed to employ parliamentary powers available to his committee to reverse the trend.
At the consultative meeting Liaison Officer, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Abdulganiyu Umar, blamed FAAN for not liaising with PHCN to address power problem at the airport.
Nnaji assured that a dedicated PHCN power line would be linked to the airport as part of measures to address power problem at the airport.
He also said that there would be round the clock presence of PHCN staff at the airport PHCN control room.
Uzodinma asked FAAN to draw a schedule of who does what at the PHCN control room to know who to hold responsible when any thing goes wrong.
