Election Fears Causes High Passenger Traffic for the Aviation Sector

             

In a bid to avoid being caught up in violence that may erupt after the February 2015 general elections, politicians, many chief executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy Nigerians have started moving their families out of Nigeria.

       

Over 800 persons, including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps were reportedly killed in the North during the violence that trailed the 2011 general elections.

Investigations have revealed  that some apprehensive politicians and top members of the business community started relocating members of their families abroad late last year.

Many, it was learnt, are still moving their families out of the country. Our findings show that, medical check-ups, short vacation, among others, are being cited by such Nigerians as reasons for their trips.

Passenger Traffic (Abroad ) is usually on the low at this time of the year, as the festivity is deemed to be over, but this is not the case this time around as the traffic is still high. It is believed that most of the trips made late last year was not as a result of the festivities , but a smart move to travel to safer shores.

People are afraid; they fear that there may be violence after the election. Those making travel plans are mostly businessmen. Many people plan to leave before the election and return after the person who emerges as the president of the country has been sworn in. Usually one would expect that the vast majority of Nigerians should avail themselves for the election, but this is not the case as fear has taken over the entire scenario.

The  United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and the UAE are some of the most preferred destinations of  these Nigerians now.

Some politicians have made arrangement to travel out of the country after the election, while many others  chose to leave the country with their families a week before the poll.

This trend has boosted income and business for travel agancies.

The trend is all over Nigeria.

Despite the countless promises of a Free , Fair and Peaceful election by all concerned parties and authorities, the fact remains that the people still see all those promises as a mere public show off and that its deemed to be a do or die affair.

Whats your take on this?