Nigerian Government Takes Over Arik Airlines

The Federal Government today took over Arik Airlines and announced the appointment of a new management in a bid to save the country’s aviation industry from total collapse.

Under the new arrangement, Roy Ilegbodu, a veteran aviation expert, has been named to take over the management of the airline under the receivership of Oluseye Opasanya, a senior advocate of Nigeria.

AMCON spokesperson, Jude Nwauzor, said the government’s decision to intervene clearly underscores a commitment to instill sanity in the country’ aviation sector to prevent a major catastrophe in the country.

“The development will afford Arik Airlines, which is the largest local carrier in the country, to go back to regular and undisrupted operations, avoid job losses, protect investors and stakeholder funds as well as ensure safety and stability in the already challenged aviation sector,” Mr. Nwauzor said.

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Just In: Hundreds of Travellers Stranded as Arik Air Reportedly Shuts Down Flight Operations

Nigeria's indigenous airline, ArikAir has allegedly shutdown its flight operations if a breaking news is anything to go by.

 

Hundreds of air travellers booked on Nigerian Arik airline are currently stranded across the country, following the inability of the airline to airlift them to their destinations.

 

Since early morning today, none of the airline’s aircraft has been operated to any destinations in Nigeria, West Africa and other routes.

 

It was learnt that the massive debts of the airline to major oil marketers who regularly supply aviation fuel is partially responsible for the current situation of the airline.

 

A source told SaharaReporter's correspondent that in addition to the airline's inability to buy for fuel, its insurers in Europe and elsewhere had withdrawn insurance cover from the airline forcing the airline to stop flight operations altogether.

 

A source close to the oil marketers disclosed that the airline is a bad debtor as it currently owes at least N3 billion to all its suppliers, a situation, which has made them not to supply Jet A1 to the airline.

 

The sordid situation may also affect the airline’s long-haul operations to Heathrow Airport in London and New York in the United States of America.

 

Some of the early morning flights of Arik Air include Lagos-Abuja at 6:45 am and 7:30, Abuja-Lagos at 8:00 and 9:00. Others are Benin, Port Harcourt, Asaba, and Kano.

 

A passenger with the airline, Chris Amokwu told a correspondent that he had been at the airport as early as 7:00 for a 7:30 am flight to Abuja, but as at 1 pm, he was yet to know if he would eventually make the trip to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

According to him, the airline attributed its inability to operate to the scarcity of Jet A1 and poor weather condition.

 

It was confirmed that Jet A1 is available in the local scene as airlines like Med-View, Air Peace and Landover Airways have been operating since morning despite the alleged scarcity of aviation fuel and poor weather by the airline.

 

When a correspondent contacted the spokesman of the airline, Ola Adebanji, he said he was not aware of the development as he was still bereaved, having lost his mother over the weekend.

 

Arik Air is the third airline to shut down flight operations in Nigeria in the last three weeks following the suspension of flight by Aero Contractors and First Nation. 

 

Source: SaharaReporters

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