The ministry of aviation has denied allegations made by Arik Air that
the Minister, Stella Adaeze Oduah demanded a 5 percent equity holding
in Arik Airlines, saying the so-called equity demand was unfounded and
diversionary.
It would be recalled that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) and other unions operating in the aviation sector had, on
Thursday, grounded the operation of the airline earlier in the week,
explaining the action was to get Arik and other debtor airlines to pay
their debts.
But, Arik Air, in a statement, same day, announced the suspension of
its flight operations due to what it described as the “persistent
hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, and FAAN management, which has
culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop Arik Air operations and lock
in checked-in passengers in Lagos”.
The airline insisted that the issue “bothers on personal interests,
and not payment of bills; since FAAN has been collecting their charges
in advance since 18 months now” alleging further that the ministry had
demanded a 5 per cent equity in its commpany.
Joe Obi, the Special Adviser on Media attached to the Aviation
Minister, in statement made available to Daily Times on Friday,
described the allegation as 'absurd, malicious and ultimately
laughable'.
Insisting that the sole intent of this release is to put the records
straight, the statement said: “The first impulse is to totally ignore
this groundless falsehood.
“The 5 percent equity story is without any foundation whatsoever. It
is absurd, malicious and ultimately laughable. The Honourable Minister
of Aviation could not have contemplated acquiring a stake in any
airline, let alone Arik Air that is groaning from a crippling N85.4
billion debt overhang.
“The time is ripe for Arik Air to change its business module that
‘thrives’ on unprecedented accumulation of debts and liabilities. The
futile attempt to impugn the integrity of the Aviation
“Minister by inferring a conflict of interest against her is at best
diversionary. It should be obvious to the management of Arik Air that
blackmail is not a panacea for a floundering enterprise.
The Minister has asked her lawyers to seek legal redress for this malicious allegation by Arik Air.
