I have never ceased to marvel at how African leaders unabashedly short-change our people. It is a long list: from looting and stashing our funds abroad to condoning degrading immigration and travel practices by their erstwhile colonial masters; from denying local contractors to killing indigenous entrepreneurship; from pushing academics to the wall to disincentivizing our vibrant Diaspora. We serve other lands, and damn our land! We import shamelessly and export little or mere commodities - scant value added. So, dear reader, Africa is the world's dumping ground - a veritable dust-bin!
Because public funds pay their fares and passage, our leaders and their crowd care not (perhaps, check not) how much it costs our people to fly, or to freight....at home and abroad.
Pray, how do you explain the outrageous disparities between the airfares to Africa and those to other world destinations? We know that from Europe to America (at least 9 hours) costs less than from Europe to Nigeria (about 6 hours)!!! So, what is this whole thing about NEPAD and its Development Partners which brings no benefits to the African masses? Where are the low-cost airlines? Why has the EU intervened in so many areas of pricing and business practices, as the US does in antitrust and price gouging, yet our own leaders look the other way?
Are the airlines bribing their way to the bank? After all, some of them are under investigation! Remember how the oil conglomerates soiled their hands in very sticky corrupt practices, and are now being probed by their home countries? What are African leaders still waiting for in the matter of tickets and freights? Should our people continue to bleed unabated? No!
Enter Virgin Atlantic. I know that the airline has yet to give Nigerians the much-anticipated low costs in air tickets. But I also know that Richard Branson saved the British masses from the tyranny and exploitative practices of the air travel cartel in the 1980's. He can and should lead the way in Africa, today. The collusion and exploitation in this sphere must be stopped. Now!
African airlines also need to get their act together. There should be urgent mergers, alliances and consolidation. Our continent is a profitable destination...especially Nigeria/ECOWAS. Why then should we not have vibrant and successful airlines, world class air business? Let our sons and daughters in the African Diaspora invest heavily in African airlines, and stop this crying shame. African pilots, like medical personnel, are in many successful airlines around the globe. Let them join the crusade. The time to act is NOW.
The present prices will make our continent unattractive for both internal and external tourism. If we act now, it will stimulate intra-African travels and trades, and help mobilize our peoples towards the FIFA World Cup, as fans and tourists, in South Africa 2010. As a continent full of potential and repeat pilgrims, lower fares will help our people with their faith-journeys' costs.
This is certainly a subject for the EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement. Europe, as usual, should step in to help stop the mindless exploitative practices which perpetuate poverty and retardation in the African continent. European airlines will be pursuing their enlightened self-interest if they were to proactively redress the matter by industry-action, as telecoms players are now doing with mobile phones' roaming charges within the EU.
If they don't, from the comprehensive debates now in the African media, they can count on new players in the near term. And new reality, too. Certainly in Nigeria, post-Elections 2007.
Qatar Airlines is a sensible model. And why not!
***wherever you go, you may find thoughts in my views or fun in my thoughts: www.versesforthemasses.blogspot.com
www.onoviranseries.blogspot.com
www.manifestoesnigeriafrom2007.blogspot.com
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