FAAN MD visits Oshiomhole, apologises over disruption in flights
(Nigeria) Authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,
have apologised to the Edo State Government and air travelers over the incident
which led to the closure of the Benin Airport on Tuesday.
FAAN’s Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, who led other
management staff which included Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Mr. Kolawole
Adefomiwa, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Adeboye Festus, the Chief Security
Officer and Mr. Ayodele Sunday, Airport Manager, Benin City said “we deeply
regret the events of yesterday and we will like to find out how we can avoid a
situation like this arising in the future, because it is neither in the
interest of FAAN nor in the interest of Edo State Government for the Airport to
be closed down, because there was a lot of hardship and serious economic
consequences as a result of the shutdown and there is need to settle this
matter.
“I want to assure your (Governor Adams Oshiomhole) that FAAN
is a good corporate citizen, I am convinced that there was a misunderstanding
and I want to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding so that it does not
happen again.
“If we have any obligations, we will meet them, and I hope
that in the future if there are issues of misunderstanding, we will be able to
talk about them quickly without them leading to delays and inconveniences to
the public. So, sir we are here to
reassure you of our respects and desire to be good corporate citizens and
partner with the State Government to deliver services to the people of Edo
State.”
In his response, Governor Oshiomhole noted that tax law was
a federal law which the state Government is only trying to implement.
He noted that the tax which FAAN defaulted on was the Pay As
You Earn, PAYE, which even the President and governors pay.
Oshiomhole said the state Board of Internal Revenue got a
proper Court Order to seal the FAAN Manager’s Office, noting that the FAAN
Manager on his own decided to seal up the Airport to gain public sympathy.
The governor said the problem with Nigeria is not immunity,
but impunity as people often violate the law and get away with it.
He insisted that anybody who works and lives in Edo State
must pay tax in contribution to the development of the state.
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