The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has given two weeks to managements of all the aviation agencies and Arik Air to resolve all issues relating to indebtedness between them.
This is contained in a
statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of
Transportation, Mr James Odaudu, on Thursday in Abuja, following a meeting
between the ministry’s authorities and Arik Airline delegation
The statement said
that the minister also directed Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Arik Air to report back with a
resolution on amounts owed, payment plans and way forward.
According to the
statement, the issue of the alleged indebtedness of Arik Air which has led to
disagreements with some trade unions within the regulatory agencies was
regrettable.
It warned that the
government would not condone lawlessness within the industry, urging all
airline operators to conform to industry rules and regulations by paying all
applicable fees and fines as at when due.
According to the
statement, Sirika also told the Arik Air delegation invited to that the
well-being of an airline is measured by its ability to pay for services
rendered to it.
He said the goal of
the present government was to develop an aviation industry founded on the
principles of safety and security of the regulators and airline operators.
“The government is
also concerned about safety of passengers and their luggage while also putting
in place polices that would encourage the growth of domestic airlines.
“I will go beyond my
limits to ensure that domestic airlines are encouraged to grow and compete
favourably with their foreign counterparts.
“But I will not
subvert applicable rules and regulations in favour of any,” the statement
quoted the minister as saying.
The minister further
said that aviation was the only industry internationally regulated, adding that
Nigerian operators must conform to international best practices.
He said that Arik Air
and other key players needed to be supported for wider international
visibility.
The Chairman of Arik
Air, Mr Arumeni Johnson, was said to have decried the frequent disruption of
the airline’s operations by trade unions operating at the airports under the
guise of its indebtedness to their organisations.
Johnson warned that if
the authorities did not stop such practice, it was capable of running down the
industry.
He said the airline
did not deserve the shabby treatment by the unions as exemplified by the recent
picketing of its offices and aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International
Airport, Lagos.
“Is it now the duty of
the union to seek payment of money owed aviation agencies?
“The union has clearly
gone beyond its mandate and we implore the Honourable Minister to intervene.”
The chairman expressed
the hope that Sirika, as a thoroughbred aviation professional, would bring his
wealth of experience to bear in resolving all the lingering issues between
airline operators and industry regulators.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the airline’s flight operations were disrupted by
members of several aviation unions on Wednesday morning over alleged N12.4
billion debt owed FAAN.
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