Access Bank Plc has reacted to reports of death of its Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in California, USA.
Wigwe, who has been feared killed in a helicopter crash was said to be with his wife, son, and a former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
The bank in a statement posted on its X handle on Sunday said it has received numerous inquiries concerning the crash and is working with the US authorities for updates.
“We have received numerous inquiries concerning an airplane crash in the USA. Presently, we lack specific information; however, we are actively collaborating with US authorities who will furnish updates.
“Your understanding and support are valued, and we commit to keeping you informed promptly as we receive updates on the situation.”
Wigwe, his wife and others onboard the ill-fated helicopter are reported to have been en route to Boulder City, Nevada from Palm Springs, California, on Friday night when it crashed at about 10 pm, near a small town in California’s Mojave Desert.
This development has dashed the hope of many Nigerians who planned to fly to the country to watch the final match.
There has been an outcry over the high airfare to Abidjan, which is less than one hour, 30 minutes from Lagos.
Nigeria’s Air Peace, Asky and Air Côte d’Ivoire, are few of the airlines flying to Abidjan.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that a one-way ticket from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) costs between N890,000 to N1.2million, while a return ticket costs over N2m, depending on the airline.
Checks on the website of Asky on Saturday indicated that a one-way fare is 1,229,811 for Sunday’s flight when the final match would be played, while the same flight costs N890,000.
On Air Côte d’Ivoire, the flight was priced at $913, which is over N1.3m at N1,450 to a dollar.
Yesterday, a Professor of Law, Joy Ezeilo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), decried the price of flight ticket to Abidjan, saying she dreamt of watching the AFCON match live but was shocked with the price of the return ticket, which is estimated at over N2.1m.
She wrote, “I am dreaming of watching AFCON 2024 live and I enquired about flights to Abidjan to watch our Super Eagles play in the final. I believed that Ivory Coast, being so close (an hour and 35 minutes) wouldn’t cost me too much. However, my travel agent of over 20 years sent me a price quotation of N2,183,000.00, which was a huge shock. I did the math and realised that I would need to save my five months’ salary as a Professor of Law on the last professional step to buy one return ticket to a West African country.
“This is a sad reflection of our current economic realities. Please refrain from attempting to convert to US dollars, it is extremely depressing and demystifying of a full professor position. This will push the resolve of brilliant young ones we are training and mentoring to take over from us farther away from the classrooms to becoming political aspirants/election delegates.
She, however, pointed out that she had made an alternative plan which includes recharging her DSTV at N19,800, and to buy 20 litres of fuel to generate power because they didn’t have electricity during the semifinal match.
“The struggle continues! Good luck to our Super Eagles! You are in my thoughts and prayers,” she stated.
However, an aviation management consultant, Babatunde Adeniji, said with the huge demand for flight to Abidjan, the value of a seat on the route also increased.
“Demand and supply of must-watch mean that each seat becomes so much more valuable. The demand and supply principle states that because of this final match, which is coming up just once, the value of your seat has gone up. If you throw a bid now on a 120-seat aircraft for all Nigerians to bid for seats, you know some people would bid much more than this amount you are even talking about, and that’s what is happening with ticketing,” he said.