THE Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim yesterday waded into the imbroglio between the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Arik Air over allegations and counter allegations bordering on huge debts amounting to N18 billion owed the agencies by the carrier.
In a meeting attended by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah Ogiewonyi, the two chairmen of the Aviation Committees of the National Assembly, the Director General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren and the management of Arik, led by its managing Director, Chris Ndulue, the Federal Government scribe appealed to the parties involved in the imbroglio that had led to the grounding of the carrier’s entire domestic operations to eschew every provocation that may have arisen as a result of this unfortunate misunderstanding.
He equally charged them to cease all the exchange of accusations and allegations, adding that they are vitiated and so of no consequence.
The amicable resolution of the face-off was however silent on whether or not Arik should pay the huge debts owed the various aviation agencies, just as Ndulue denied ever saying that the Minister requested for five per cent equity in the carrier.
According to Anyim, “We use this opportunity to appeal to both parties to eschew every provocation that may have arisen as a result of this unfortunate misunderstanding. Accordingly, all the exchange of accusations and allegations are vitiated and so of no consequence. On behalf of the Ministry of Aviation and the Management of Arik air, we apologise to all travellers for the inconveniencies this unfortunate misunderstanding may have caused them’’.
“We are pleased to announce that Arik Air can now resume operations’’, he added.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos at a press briefing yesterday, Ndulue said having resolved the issues, he announced that the airline would resume operations today, just as he admitted that what the airline owe FAAN was N1, 623, 193, 653.38 and not N7, 140, 733, 942.71 quoted by the agency.
Asked if he still maintained the allegation by the airline that the Minister requested for five per equity in the carrier, Ndulue said he never said so.
His words, “We did not say that the minister ask for five per cent equity in the company. It is in the air. Well, I can’t take care of that”.
Minister had described as spurious and wicked allegations from Arik that the agencies and unions picketed the firm because the minister demanded a five percent equity holding in the airline.
According to the spokesman for the minister, Joe Obi, “The first impulse is to totally ignore this groundless falsehood. Except that it will send the wrong signals to the general public.
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment