Reps seek waiver of airport, train station tollgate fees for Armed Forces
Members of the House of Representatives have called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to waive tollgate fees in all Nigerian airports for members of the nation’s armed forces.
Coming under Order 8 Rule 5 of the House Standing Orders, sponsor of the motion of urgent public importance, Abdulsamad Dasuki, said there’s the need to exempt members of the armed forces given their unique duties of keeping the nation and citizens safe and secured.
Keyamo, on May 14, 2024, announced the cancellation of exemptions on all airport access payments for VIPs due to the huge revenue losses they cause to the Federal Government.
Speaking on the motion, Dasuki noted, “Men and women of the armed forces honour our nation with the highest form of service and without reservation; keeping us safe from harm, protecting our wealth and territorial integrity, ensuring safe navigation on our territorial waters, protecting our borders including the Gulf of Guinea, creeks, Sahara Desert and forests, and fighting armed bandits who invade our communities.
“It is important to show gratitude by honouring our brothers and sisters who are voluntarily serving under our flag, putting in their active years to keep our nation safe with some losing their lives, and some becoming disabled from the battlefield amidst other effects.
“Honouring these men and women in uniform, and also encouraging fellow citizens to acknowledge their service to the nation is the right step to take as a way to appreciate the immeasurable sacrifices they make.”
He further justified his call for the exemption of airport tollgate fees for the armed forces on the premise that it is capable of inspiring young ones to enrol in the military to serve the nation.
“Honouring those who fight for our survival, will also inspire our youths to enrol in the military not as a means of escaping the web of unemployment, but as a valuable call to higher service to the nation.
“Members of the armed forces are subjected to paying for access to our airports where they are also expected to protect citizens and foreigners alike whether or not they are on duty and even while they are passengers themselves.
“Their services though remunerated cannot be quantified especially when the risks to them and their dependents are considered, we should not be hesitant to show them in our little way that we see them and we acknowledge their sacrifices,” he added.
He stressed that “Unless we are intentional in showing our appreciation to them by extending privileges like the proposed exemption, our nation would appear to underrate their services and lack knowledge of the value that they bring.”
Before putting the prayers to vote, the motion was amended to include exemptions of payment of toll gates at train stations and seaports.
Following its adoption, the motion was referred to the House Committee on Aviation to ensure compliance.
