Two aviation unions, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) – Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, yesterday insisted that the proposed Nigeria Eagles being created out of the existing Arik Air should not be granted Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).
The unions stated this as controversy deepened over the NG Eagle established by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from the vestiges of Arik Air it took over in 2017 over indebtedness.
Already, two Arik Air aircraft have been rebranded Nigeria Eagles while another is undergoing rebranding at the Ethiopian Airlines maintenance facility in Addis Ababa.
But ANAP and NUP are kicking against AMCON’s divestment move while calling on all aviation staff across the country to prepare for a showdown with Arik Air.
They hinged their opposition on the huge indebtedness of Arik Air to aviation agencies to the tune of N19bn.
ANAP’s General Secretary, Comrade Rasaq Saidu, and its NUP FAAN branch counterpart, Njoku Emeka, said the huge indebtedness to aviation service providers was affecting operation services rendered by the agencies.
In a statement they added that: “It has equally affected aviation staff negatively to carry out the duties and responsibilities to other airlines and passengers in general.”
They noted that Arik Air took over the majority property of the liquidated Nigerian Airways “for a ridiculous amount while other landed property were shared among their friends and cronies.”
The unions, therefore, urged the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to stop the issuance of AOC to Nigeria Eagles “until all the total debts of Arik transforming to NG Eagle is settled to avoid repeated mistakes of Bellview Air transforming to First Nation and eventually dying with debts.”
It would be recalled that other sister unions in the industry, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Employees (NAAPE), all of Arik branch, on Monday, asked ANAP and NUP to steer clear of affairs in Arik and NG Eagle, calling the duo busybodies.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is on the verge of issuing the AOC to the new airline which is a prerequisite for the commencement of operations.
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