MOTION TO INVESTIGATE BILATERAL AIR SERVICE
AGREEMENT (BASA) BETWEEN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ITS
NON-DOMESTICATION BY NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES
AGREEMENT (BASA) BETWEEN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ITS
NON-DOMESTICATION BY NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES
The House:
Notes: Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) is an
agreement signed between two nations to allow international commercial air
transport services between their territories. BASA, founded on the principle of reciprocity, is
a deal that enables a country’s airlines to enjoy equal leverage, in terms of
flight operations, in countries with which their home country has an air
agreement.
agreement signed between two nations to allow international commercial air
transport services between their territories. BASA, founded on the principle of reciprocity, is
a deal that enables a country’s airlines to enjoy equal leverage, in terms of
flight operations, in countries with which their home country has an air
agreement.
Worried: During the signing of the agreement few years ago, both governments
(Nigeria and United Kingdom) agreed to assist airlines owned by
both countries
that wish to fly into each other’s airspace. Under the bilateral agreement
between United Kingdom and Nigeria, each of the two countries would have 21
frequencies for its airlines. What this means is that British airlines would
operate into Nigeria 21 times, while Nigerian airlines would also operate into
Britain 21 times.
(Nigeria and United Kingdom) agreed to assist airlines owned by
both countries
that wish to fly into each other’s airspace. Under the bilateral agreement
between United Kingdom and Nigeria, each of the two countries would have 21
frequencies for its airlines. What this means is that British airlines would
operate into Nigeria 21 times, while Nigerian airlines would also operate into
Britain 21 times.
Concerned: The underlying tenet and principle behind agreement of this magnitude
is equality of flights between and among airlines of signatory countries
without compromising safety and security standards. However, this principle of
equal partnership and stakes is being flagrantly abused by the United Kingdom.
While British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are fully exploiting the Nigerian
slots as contained in the BASA, same could not be said of their Nigerian
counterparts.
is equality of flights between and among airlines of signatory countries
without compromising safety and security standards. However, this principle of
equal partnership and stakes is being flagrantly abused by the United Kingdom.
While British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are fully exploiting the Nigerian
slots as contained in the BASA, same could not be said of their Nigerian
counterparts.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Resolves to;
1.
Request
the House Committee on Aviation as well as the Committee Treaties and
Agreements investigate the BASA and how beneficial are these Bilateral Air Service
Agreements to Nigerian Airlines.
Request
the House Committee on Aviation as well as the Committee Treaties and
Agreements investigate the BASA and how beneficial are these Bilateral Air Service
Agreements to Nigerian Airlines.
2.
Request
that the Ministry of Aviation, immediately forward all Bilateral Air Service
Agreements (BASA) which Nigeria entered into for domestication to the House of
Representatives in order for these treaties to have force of Law as provided in
Section 12 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Request
that the Ministry of Aviation, immediately forward all Bilateral Air Service
Agreements (BASA) which Nigeria entered into for domestication to the House of
Representatives in order for these treaties to have force of Law as provided in
Section 12 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
MOTION
Honourable colleagues,
I seek to present a motion to investigate thenon-domestication of the
Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom
as its non –domestication and presentation to the National Assembly makes the
treaty not to have the force of Law in Pursuant to Section 12 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
I seek to present a motion to investigate thenon-domestication of the
Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom
as its non –domestication and presentation to the National Assembly makes the
treaty not to have the force of Law in Pursuant to Section 12 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
One of the fundamental
principles of International trade and business is economic co-operation with
agreements of different forms and shades as the basis for such interdependence.
In Air transport, air service agreements are entered into, which should be
mutually beneficial to the parties, hence the BASA.
principles of International trade and business is economic co-operation with
agreements of different forms and shades as the basis for such interdependence.
In Air transport, air service agreements are entered into, which should be
mutually beneficial to the parties, hence the BASA.
Bilateral
Air Service Agreement (BASA) is an agreement signed between two nations to
allow international commercial air transport services between their
territories. Under the bilateral
agreement between United Kingdom and Nigeria, each of the two countries would
have 21 frequencies for its airlines. What this means is that British airlines
would operate into Nigeria 21 times, while Nigerian airlines would also operate
into Britain 21 times.
Air Service Agreement (BASA) is an agreement signed between two nations to
allow international commercial air transport services between their
territories. Under the bilateral
agreement between United Kingdom and Nigeria, each of the two countries would
have 21 frequencies for its airlines. What this means is that British airlines
would operate into Nigeria 21 times, while Nigerian airlines would also operate
into Britain 21 times.
Recent happenings in the Aviation sector seems not
to be in favour on Nigerian Airlines as deluge of complaints and displeasure
are been expressed by industry operators on the lopsided nature of this
agreement in favour of UK registered Airlines.
to be in favour on Nigerian Airlines as deluge of complaints and displeasure
are been expressed by industry operators on the lopsided nature of this
agreement in favour of UK registered Airlines.
Fellow Lawmakers, further review of this situation
revealed that despite the noise and cries by Nigerians on the alleged lopsided
nature of this Agreement, it was revealed that this agreement was not even
domesticated and lacked the Force of Law. So, it can be convincingly deduced
that these Agreements are really not justiciable or enforceable under the Laws
of Nigeria even if the alleged defaults by the UK authorities are indeed real.
revealed that despite the noise and cries by Nigerians on the alleged lopsided
nature of this Agreement, it was revealed that this agreement was not even
domesticated and lacked the Force of Law. So, it can be convincingly deduced
that these Agreements are really not justiciable or enforceable under the Laws
of Nigeria even if the alleged defaults by the UK authorities are indeed real.
Nigeria is a signatory
to many of these treaties-be it Bilateral and Multi-Lateral agreements and
suffix to say that only a few of them have really been beneficial to the people
of Nigeria whom we always claimed to have been greatly considered before
appending our signatures on these binding documents. Also, before treaties can
have a force of Law in Pursuant to Section 12 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 they must be tabled before this Honourable House.
to many of these treaties-be it Bilateral and Multi-Lateral agreements and
suffix to say that only a few of them have really been beneficial to the people
of Nigeria whom we always claimed to have been greatly considered before
appending our signatures on these binding documents. Also, before treaties can
have a force of Law in Pursuant to Section 12 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 they must be tabled before this Honourable House.
Hon. Yacoob E.A. Alebiosu
Hon. Dayo Alebiosu is a member of the House of Representatives, representing the good people of Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos State and Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties and Agreements.