The Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) says that it is on red alert at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) following unconfirmed reports that major international airlines operating from Nigeria were wooing Nigerian passengers to board flights from Accra because of high costs of operation in that country.
Highly placed sources within NACOB have it that although it has not been notified officially of such moves, it has strengthened its already existing tough measures at the airport. Reports have it that major airlines in Nigeria because of high costs of operation have come up with strategies that would enable them to bring their passengers to KIA to travel to Europe and other destinations worldwide.
According to NACOB, the situation if it is anything to go by would come with its own problems and that has made them to be on the alert.
The sources told The Enquirer newspaper in a separate phone interview that NACOB already has a strong link with their Nigerian counterparts to handle any incident of drug trafficking.�We are firmly on the ground and we will not have any problems at all should what we are hearing come to pass,� the sources said.
The sources said that the fact that Lagos Airport was once used as one of the major exit points of illicit drugs to Europe, place a heavy task on the NACOB.
However, the sources said that KIA as a no-go zone would make the place unpalatable for the barons who would use the place.
The unconfirmed report has it that major airlines operating in Nigeria are raising flags about the high cost of operation in that country.
According to the report, most of the airlines were likely to establish their operational base in Accra in the future as the present conditions in Nigeria were not likely to be improved.
They cited the cost of aviation fuel as being too expensive as compared to the prices prevailing in Ghana, according to the report.
It stated that the cost of upper class of Virgin Atlantic Airways from Accra to London is N385, 000, while it is N821, 000 from Lagos for flights scheduled the same day and the same time�Also, cost of first class ticket of British Airways from Accra is N773, 798, while from Abuja is N1, 081, 997 and Lagos is N1, 365,998. British Airways club class inbound on a Sunday to Accra N481, 498, while Lagos is N918, 234 and Abuja is N776, 223.�
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