You Ban 2011 Corolla For Being Old But Allow 27-Year-Old Max Air Plane That Collapsed In Yola To Fly — Dan Bello Blasts Kano Airport Authorities
Popular activists, Bello Galadanchi, widely known as Dan Bello, has exposed what he described as a new injustice and double standard at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, where taxis below 2012 model are banned from operating while decades-old aircraft continue to fly Nigerians daily.
In a video investigation, Dan Bello revealed that airport authorities have introduced a new rule banning all hire cars, cabs and taxis whose models are below 2012 from operating at the airport terminal.
“Everyone, let me tell you about a new form of injustice that is being planned here at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. If your car is not a 2012 model or higher, you are not allowed to operate a hire service — that is, a cab, ride-hailing vehicle, or taxi — at this airport. They want all these low-income drivers to leave. Your car must be expensive before you are allowed to provide transportation here,” he said.
To expose the hypocrisy, Dan Bello used aircraft registration numbers — which he likened to car plate numbers — to trace the ages of commercial planes still flying at Nigerian airports.
According to his findings:
Rano Air aircraft: 24 years and 7 months old — nearly 20 years older than Rano Air company itself.
Max Air aircraft: 27 years old — recently suffered front tyre collapse in Yola.
Aero Contractors: 27 years and 1 month old, and another 33 years old aircraft flying since 1993.
Air Peace: 19 years and 2 months old.
Ibom Air: 14 years and 22 years old.
“Look at this Rano Air plane, everyone; it is 24 years and 7 months old. Thus, it is nearly 20 years older than the Rano Air company itself. We discovered this by using the aircraft’s registration number. Just look at the interior condition of this Rano Air aircraft,” Dan Bello said.
He stressed he was not attacking Rano Air but pointing out the decaying condition of aircraft carrying ordinary Nigerians.
“I am not trying to insult Rano Air or anything, no. I am simply pointing out the aging, deteriorating condition of the aircraft carrying ordinary citizens across Nigeria. Yet, outside the airport, they claim only high-end vehicles should operate. Which of these two truly needs strict safety standard enforcement?” he queried.
Dan Bello asked which poses greater risk — an aircraft vibrating in the sky or a ground vehicle driving safely from airport to town.
“An aircraft flying high up in the sky, vibrating continuously, or a ground vehicle driving safely from the airport into town without issues? Which vehicle truly poses a greater threat to human life?” he asked.
He lamented that airline owners who are wealthy are allowed to fly old aircraft without restriction, while poor taxi drivers struggling to feed their families are targeted.
“However, because the owners of these airlines are wealthy individuals, no restrictions are placed on their aircraft. They continue to fly these old planes transporting ordinary citizens. Meanwhile, the struggling individual who owns a modest car just to feed their family is the one targeted and harassed.
“These small-scale drivers — struggling to feed their families on the ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 they earn daily from taxi services — are being forced out of the airport under the claim that their cars are too old. This is sheer injustice,” Dan Bello said.
He cited his personal experience with one Aero aircraft that has been flying since he was 11 years old and is now 38.
“This Aero plane is 27 years and 1 month old. It has been flying since I was 11 years old. I am now 38, and it is still up in the sky every single day. As for this other Aero aircraft, it is 33 years old. It has been flying in the sky since 1993.”
Dan Bello called on aviation authorities to focus on genuine air safety instead of punishing low-income drivers trying to earn a living at the airport.
