By Helen Ovbiagele
If there’s one thing that has been lacking in our national character, it’s consistently having people in decision-making positions, who can speak up for the country, to ensure that we’re respected and treated fairly and with dignity.

I was pleased about the way we’ve reacted in recent weeks to issues concerning injustice meted out to us. It was reported that some government officials were not allowed into South Africa because it was alleged that they had fake yellow fever cards.

We felt disgraced and we bared our teeth, demanding apology from the South African government for the humiliation. Not only is this country a sister African country, Nigeria played a great role giving moral and huge financial support in their fight against apartheid, risking the wrath of some western countries.

Thank God they won, and the ANC has been in power since then, and to some extent, black Africans rule the country. Have they forgotten all the sacrifices we made for their cause, and they can now dare to humiliate Nigerians? We’re furious.

But let’s pause and reflect in an objective way. Has South Africa forgotten our help? No. It will go down in African history that Nigeria was one of the first countries that Nelson Mandela paid a ‘thank you’ visit to as soon as he was released from jail, and even before he was elected the first black president in his country.

Immediately after this, South Africa opened up to us and hundreds of Nigerians flocked there in the early nineties for trade, work, or to settle there. There was no problem then obtaining visas or, gaining entry into that country.

On their part, South African companies saw Nigeria as a lucrative market for their products/services and they are doing business with us – Telecomms, banks, departmental stores, etc.

Rot set into our relationship with South Africa when hordes of our citizens flocked there and began to exhibit those traits that usually bring disgrace and embarrassment to Nigeria in western countries- fraud, robbery, and all sorts of scams and criminal activities.

This aroused feelings of hatred for Nigerians, even though the crime rate in that country is much higher than ours. Reports of crimes attributed to Nigerians, became so many that at their airports, we are singled out for humiliating searches and interrogations.

However, since both countries continue to inter-relate to our mutual benefit, it is important that there’s respect for each other’s rules and regulations. We shouldn’t say that because we rendered help to them in their struggle, we should be accorded special treatment which allows us to break their laid down rules. We should enforce our rules here too, and not allow anyone to come trample on them under any guise.

Unlike the U.S.A and some European countries, the issue of the yellow fever card is taken very seriously by most African and Asian countries, right from their embassies here. Travellers all over the West African sub-region are very aware of this. It’s an important part of your travel documents.

Some acquaintances of mine who travelled to Australia some years ago for a conference, told me they were kept in quarantine at the airport because they didn’t have the yellow fever card. That’s how important it is to some countries.

In the eighties and early nineties, it was easy to get these cards from some local governments and all Port Health offices throughout the country and there was no need for fakes. Maybe the Nigerian factor has set in, and the card is no longer readily available, and thus we now have fakes.

For Nigerians to be held in high regards, before we travel out of the country, we should arm ourselves with the genuine relevant documents that would ensure smooth entry into the country we’re visiting. We should remember that our typical attitude of non-compliance to laid down rules, may not be acceptable to other countries, and they won’t hesitate to humiliate us.

Disparity in airfares

I must say that I was one of those who rejoiced when our Aviation minister reprimanded the two British carriers for charging us double the fares they charge their Ghanaian passengers, and asked them to bring down their fares at once to be at par, since the route is virtually the same distance.

I was outraged that these airlines should milk us that way, when ours is one of their most lucrative routes. Just what were they punishing us for? If it’s a question of being an oil producing country, Ghana has joined that rank and is doing well.

Their explanation that the huge demand for Business and first class seats in Nigeria was what informed the disparity in fares in these classes didn’t make sense to me at first. Shouldn’t much demand bring down prices? No, said a colleague. “Madam, don’t waste your time getting angry about this one because it’s the cause of the elite that is being fought,” he explained.

“What is being argued are the fares for Business and First classes, not Economy. In Ghana, there’s more demand for Economy seats, and the fares for those are almost the same as ours. But our VIPs and their families mostly fly First and Business classes, and the airlines need to put more staff on duty there to give adequate services, so, they had to raise these fares.

So, our rulers are not fighting for you and me and the majority of Nigerians who mainly travel Economy, but for themselves and members of their families who travel those classes. They’re feeling the pinch, so, they protest to the Aviation minister. ”

“Are you serious?”

“Madam, have you heard of anyone going to Ghana to board Economy class from there, to save costs?” “No.”

“Well, according to what is being said, some of those for the higher classes do that. I’m sure that if they decide to travel economy, the fares would plummet. Those airlines say they’re struggling to cope with the the huge demands for the higher classes here. Our people are not forced to travel those classes.”

Personally, I think Princess Oduah has been doing a great job improving our airports, and I’m sure she will have a good score card at the end of the day. However, if my colleague’s claims are true, she shouldn’t allow herself to be distracted from the real problems in her ministry, by the elite class.

If we ban those two airlines, do we have ready replacements? It’s only when we have a solid national carrier in place that we can carry out such a threat, if any. Our own national carrier went burst ages ago. We tried BA/NIGERIA AIRWAYS. It didn’t work. We tried VIRGIN/NIGERIA AIRWAYS, it didn’t work.

Those who want to travel first and business classes have the choice of making a hop to Accra, and boarding these classes from there, to enjoy the cheaper fares. There’s also the choice of a private Nigerian carrier.

Meanwhile, please let’s concentrate on a better life for the masses, many of whom may never see the inside of any aircraft, let alone travel in it.