Hundreds of passengers using Benin Airport, in Benin City to connect their various destinations got stranded all over the country on Tuesday as Edo State Government, illegally shut the Benin Airport down over an alleged unpaid taxes.
The shut down, however, caused the airlines operating into and out of the Benin airport to record huge revenue loses.
A reliable source in the aviation industry who spoke on the alleged illegal shutdown said the closure was not unconnected with a claim that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has refused to pay some taxes to the purse of the state.
The source which claimed that the shutdown was carried out at about 4:00 am by the officials from Edo State Internal Revenue Board.
Passengers who spoke on the development claimed that the closure of the airport disrupted their travelling plans for the week.
A passenger who simply identified himself as Joseph claimed he was expected to go to Sapele from Benin Airport but noted that he could no longer accomplish the mission on Tuesday.
Joseph who claimed he would have to spend another night in Lagos before he could make his journey to Sapele depending on when the airport would be reopened, said the decision of the Edo State government to shutdown the airport without providing an alternative one is condemnable.
Another air passenger who also spoke at the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Terminal Two MMA2 of Lagos airport said he too had to reschedule his flight till Wednesday by which time he expected the airport would be open to operations.
The passenger who said he was going to Benin on vacation claimed that the closure has cost him financial losses because despite the refund of his fare by the airline, he would have to transport himself back home and also back to the airport, a cost which he claimed he never bargained for.
When contacted, the two airlines operating into the airport from Lagos, Arik Air and Aero airlines, the confirmed the closure and disruptions to their flight operations to the airport.
They said they had to make refund to their passengers since the flights had to be cancelled. In aviation parlance this is a very huge lose.
When contacted on the shut down and the claim that FAAN was not paying relevant taxes, including tenement rate, to the Edo State Government, The General Manager, Corporate Communications at FAAN, Yakubu Dati explained that the Act that established FAAN exempted the authority from paying any taxes or tenement rate to any state government.
“This action, which has effectively shut down flight operations at the airport, is in contravention of the laws setting up the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, operators of the airport. Sub-Section 25, Section IV of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Cap. F5) of 2004,establishing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria states clearly that “The Authority shall be exempted from the payment of taxes and tenement rates and any arrears whatsoever in connection thereto.”
Dati further said the action of the Edo State government to shut down the airport was not only unlawful but provocative because it is a well known fact that all airport lands are acquired by the Federal Government and are exempted from paying charges to the States where they are located,”
He added that the unlawful closure of the airport by the State Government and the invasion of the airport’s restricted area by unauthorised individuals is a security breach which no responsible Government should be seen to be encouraging, especially in view of the present security situation
in the country.
