The House of Representatives Tuesday urged the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to mandate relevant authorities to exempt members of the Nigeria Armed Forces from tollgate fees and parking payments in airports.
Persomel of the armed forces are also expected to enjoy such exemptions at seaports, public bus stations and train stations across Nigeria.
Keyamo recently announced the decision of the Federal Executive Council for VIPs to pay toll fees at the airports, saying the aviation sector lose billions of naira because some VIPs are exempted from paying tolls.
The House passed the resolution on a motion sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki who said there was urgent need to waive such tolls for members of the Armed Forces.
Dasuki said, “The Minister of Aviation will implement the decision of the FEC by sending out circulars to relevant authorities in a matter of days. 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.”
He said 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.
He said, “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. Honoring those who fight for our survival, will also inspire our youth to enroll 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.”
