The operations of
Nigeria’s largest indigenous airline, Arik Air, were disrupted by members of
several aviation unions on Wednesday morning over an alleged N12.4 billion debt
owed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Scores of passengers
were left stranded at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala
Muhammed Airport, Arik Air’s operational base in Lagos, as early as 6.30 am as
placards-carrying unionists grounded the operation of the airline.
Some of the passengers
were seen demanding a refund from the airline staff while others were making
alternative arrangements.
According to a travel
news website, the Nigerian Travel Flight Deck, the union members said they
resorted to blocking the airline from operating this morning after years of
negotiating with the airline over the debt failed to yield any result.
Some of the placards
have captions like: “Arik Pay Your 12.4bn Debt”, “FAAN can no longer pay
salaries, pension, staff claims due to your debt.” “Debtors pay all you owe
FAAN now.” “Arik if you can’t pay don’t fly”, “Arik pay your debt 12.4bn is too
much.”
The General Secretary
of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Olayinka Abioye, in a
statement stated: “We are engaged in picketing exercise against Arik Air over
its indebtedness to FAAN in the sum of N12.5b”.
FAAN’s spokesperson,
Yakubu Datti, confirmed the picketing of the airline when contacted by PREMIUM
TIMES but said he could not provide additional information as the action was a
union affair.
The spokesperson of
Arik Air, Ola Banji, in an email to Premium Times, described the claim that it
owed FAAN N12.4 billion as “spurious”.
Source: Premium Times
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