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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State House of Assembly has directed the state governor to urgently interface with the concerned agencies over the exorbitant prices of flight tickets charged by airline operators on the Owerri route.
The directive was a result of a motion of urgent importance by the Minority Leader (PDP) and Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Princewill Amuchie, and adopted by members, calling on Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the Ministry of Transport to address the increase in flight ticket prices and interface with the necessary agencies to see to their reduction.
The prices, they said, have become outrageous, especially in Owerri, Imo State, and need to be reduced to make air travel more accessible to the people.
The motion was presented on the floor of the House on Tuesday and co-sponsored by 16 other legislators.
Throwing more light on the motion, Hon Amuchie, who is the House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, pointed out that the flight ticket prices on the Owerri route are becoming too exorbitant and need to be looked into.
According to him, “The cost of flight tickets on the Owerri route is higher even when the distance and flight times are about the same as other places; hence this House is appealing that the FAAN and the airline operators should be fair to our people in terms of flight ticket prices.
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“These 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 business, leisure, and other purposes.
“The Ministry of Transport should work with the regulatory bodies to establish price controls 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 in Imo State to increase competition and drive down ticket prices.
“We therefore urge the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Hope Uzodimma, to direct the Ministry of Transport to intervene in reducing flight ticket prices to Owerri as a step towards making air travel more accessible to the people of Imo State,” Amuchie averred.
Supporting the motion on the floor of the House were the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon Clinton Amadi, Orsu State Constituency, Hon Francis Agabiga, Oguta, Engr Gilbert Nwosu, Ikeduru, Hon Johnleoba Iheoha, among others.
They commended the mover of the motion, saying that things are too expensive in Owerri, not just the airline ticket prices, which is not the case in other South East states.
They reiterated that the necessary agencies, including the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), have to come into effect to protect and stop the bodies from extorting the people.
