".... The driver will pick you up at the airport". This was the voice of Victor "E", on the other side of the mobile phone at Aso Estate, Abuja. "Okay, see you soon", i responded. My journey to Abuja on Air Peace was scheduled for 14:25 P.M, on flight P47126, on the 23rd of June, 2022 and i have planned my time very well, to avoid the stories that touch, like "to be late to the airport", "to miss my flight" or to "be held back by regular Lagos traffic". I got to the local wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport by 10:54 A.M. I checked in and sat at the departure lounge around 11:08 A.M.
As i began to study the itinerary for my next tour, i was caught up by my knowledge of physiognomy as the looks on the faces of passengers who mostly are Nigerians reveals hope, aspiration, joy, tiredness, frusteration and suddenly, i was awakened from my art by the male voice of the flight announcer. "We are sorry to announce the cancellation of flight - - - - to Ilorin". Everyone began to giggle and laugh and it seems i was the only one who didn't get the joke. I asked the man who sat by my side what had happened. He smiled and said, "ah! it's the flight cancellation". I wondered what was funny about that. It's a sorry state that what's wrong had become normal. The lady at the boutique store at the departure lounge where i charged my phone said, "oga, dat one na normal now".
Afterwards, the male voice of the flight announcer caught everyone's attention again, as he announced that due to aircraft constraints, the flight schedule has been changed. Hence, (my flight) flight 7126, Lagos to Abuja for 23rd of June, 2022, will now depart at 3:40 PM. I shrinked on my chair as another passenger who will be on the same flight exploded in anger. He was annoyed as he spoke to one of the airline staff that "why would the airline reschedule without the passengers knowledge?" and she politely responded that an email had been sent out which made the passenger more furious, as he said, "i have been here for hours and how do you expect me to know that you have sent an email when i already have my flight schedule?".
I noticed as some passengers shook their heads, and i did likewise but it's unfortunate that we seem to be handicapped. What can we do about this?
Is fate repeating itself as i have had similar experience with Arik Air in 2021, with an American tourist enroute Abuja and back to Lagos. Cooper was really mad, and my saving grace back then was that he enjoyed his tour of Lagos and gave a five star review. As i apologized to him, he said that i was not to be blamed but should be careful of the airline that i will book for potential visitors. He said he will add the experience on his American travellers group review. I pleaded with him that he should not add such nefarious review that the incident was unusual. The question is, was the experience unusual?
FAAN is doing it's best but why does it feel like the airlines are unchecked. However, it's expensive to manage an aircraft. Maybe there should be funds or grants made available to support airlines and it is as if the effect of covid 19 continues to persist and if there are no genuine recovery plan for airlines, the situation may be worsened.
Further more, as we promote both inbound and outbound, domestic or International tours around and to Nigeria, certain machinery must be put in place. And transportation is very important in the mechanism. Good form of transportation is very vital in tourism development. Air transport, railways, good road networks, and other forms of transportation should be developed and must be well managed by professionals. Who knows where the shoe hurts in the tourism sphere in Nigeria? Paper work is not synonymous to practical work. Tourism and hospitality is personal service delivery enterprise.
What? It's the voice of the flight announcer again, as he announced that it's time for us to board the aircraft. Atlast! What a sigh of relief. As we lined up on a single file to board the aircraft, some passengers made calls to apologise to those who had been waiting for them on the other side, and smiled that in about an hours time they will arrive the destination.
After security check, about three white coaster buses conveyed us to the aircraft. It was a huge aeroplane. As, we entered the aircraft, i located my seat number, D16. My intention was to close my eyes and sleep for the duration of the flight to Abuja. There were so many people on the aircraft. I noticed an elderly man and his wife. He carried what seems to be a cake as he located his seat. He made a phone call. Within a few minutes, we were all seated. Suddenly, the light went off and the air condition stopped. We were not moved.
Everyone was calm untill one of the passengers stood up and asked why the air condition was not working. An arguement ensued and everyone became concerned. The flight captain was dismayed as the passenger tried to enter the aircraft flight deck. I became worried too. It's a violation of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations ( NCARs) 8.5.1.12 and 8.5.1.13”, for unauthorised personnel to enter the aircraft cockpit during operations. A letter, NCAA/ DG/ AIR/1/11/324 dated 25th of October 2021, was issued by the Director - general, Captain Musa Nuhu of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and addressed to accountable managers of airlines. The consequence is sanction against the operator and flight crew. Internationally, it's a criminal offence for any unauthorized person to enter the cockpit. It carries a prison sentence.
As the tention increased on the aircraft, the flight captain came out of the cockpit and announced that the aircraft had technical problem. Passengers began to fidget and scramble for their hand luggages. It's unfortunate that the flight attendants could not control the situation. As the European flight captain announced again that the aircraft had technical problem and the engineer was working on it, everyone paused at the same time but when there seem to be no changes and no announcement, rather than be calmed, everyone began to run out of the aircraft.
The passengers that were already outside the aircraft began to laugh at others as they find their way out of the aircraft and it seems there was no help from anywhere. As many as we were, no one attended to us. We kept guessing and as we saw the Air Peace coaster buses approaching, we climbed and were returned back to the departure hall. It's sad that as some of us were leaving the airport, no staff addressed us on the situation on ground. I was handicapped for hours. I could not meet up with my tour. I also missed a very important zoom meeting.
How would the tourism industry grow when the major tourism machineries are not overhauled? It's an expensive joke when those who are not practitioners of tourism and hospitality enterpreneurs are the ones controlling the industry in Nigeria.