• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
The Union Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Security
    • Judiciary
    • Special Reports
  • Politics
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Communication
    • Energy
    • Maritime
    • Oil & Gas
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Health
  • Education
  • Arts & Life
    • Art
    • Books
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Athletics
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Golf
  • Press Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Interviews
    • Columns
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Security
    • Judiciary
    • Special Reports
  • Politics
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Communication
    • Energy
    • Maritime
    • Oil & Gas
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Health
  • Education
  • Arts & Life
    • Art
    • Books
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Athletics
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Golf
  • Press Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Interviews
    • Columns
The Union Nigeria

Controversy Deepens Over Move To Float NG Eagle From Arik

 “This is an aspect of unnecessary political interference we’ve been addressing over the years on NCAA’s autonomy. This will not help the sector. If care is not taken...

by The Union Nigeria
October 17, 2021
in Aviation
Controversy Deepens Over Move To Float NG Eagle From Arik

Arik Air

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare To WhatsAppSend To Mail

The controversy over the move to establish Nigeria Eagle (NG Eagle) from the remnants of Arik Air has taken a new dimension following a directive by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to halt the issuance of Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to the airline.

Incidentally, the senate later followed suit by writing a letter to NCAA, directing it to suspend the issuance of AOC to the new airline in a move that has pitched the lawmakers against stakeholders in the aviation industry who queried the perceived interference with regulatory functions.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the lawmakers’ directive through the House Committee on Aviation Chairman, Hon Nnolim Nnaji, was sequel to the petition to the committee by two unions: Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, asking NCAA to deny NG Eagle the proposed AOC over indebtedness of Arik Air to FAAN.

In what is believed to be unusual in the industry, the unions are divided over the new airline as the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Employees (NAAPE) in Arik described ANAP and NUP as “busy bodies”, asking them to stay away from Arik and NG Eagle matters.

Arik Air which used to be the largest carrier in West and Central Africa was taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2017 and is still under its receivership.

ALSO READ  Two Access Bank Staff Bag Three Years for N9.4m ATM Card Fraud In Benue

But as part of its divestment policy, AMCON has concluded plans to float a new airline, NG Eagle, using some of the equipment of Arik Air. At least three aircraft of Arik Air have been converted to NG Eagle.

It would be recalled that Nigeria Eagle was incorporated as NG Eagle Limited RC: 1600277 on July 11, 2019, with a share capital of N1,000,000,000. The shareholders are AMCON with N499,999,999, while Omokhide Kamilu Alaba has one unit of share.

It was further learnt that NCAA has concluded plans to issue the AOC to NG Eagle this month prior to the directive of the House of Representatives which is now generating ripples in the sector, with some stakeholders describing the directive as an interference in the work of the regulatory authority and a slap on the autonomy of NCAA.

President of the Aviation Roundtable and Safety Initiative, Dr Gabriel Olowo, who spoke on the latest development, stressed that the directive by the house amounted to “interloping”.

He said, “I don’t think it is the responsibility of the congress (National Assembly) to direct NCAA to issue or not to issue an AOC. There is establishment in ICAO regulation; that no matter how powerful the ministry (political arm of government) is; it can only wield influence, but not dictate to NCAA.

 “The criteria to award AOC are under the purview of NCAA. That is the agency that has the right on who to issue licence to. The NCAA is recognised internationally as an institution to regulate civil aviation.

ALSO READ  INTERVIEW: Atiku Is Not A Threat To Tinubu In North East - Bayero

“The autonomy of NCAA is not negotiable. We will be killing NCAA if we allow such interferences over its activities.

 “This is an aspect of unnecessary political interference we’ve been addressing over the years on NCAA’s autonomy. This will not help the sector. If care is not taken, we will begin to see such interferences on safety issues; which airline is to ground or not to ground, despite safety violations, etc.”

Controversy Deepens Over Move To Float NG Eagle From Arik
Arik Air

Also, a former CEO of Aero Contractors, Capt Ado Sanusi, spoke along the same line, saying, “The pronouncement of the house is a sad development because the award of operating licence is a process which takes cognizance of safety and other critical factors and therefore should not be politicised.

“The National Assembly cannot dictate to NCAA because the regulatory authority is carrying out a responsibility that is globally acknowledged and domiciled with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“But I have confidence in the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, because he is experienced and has international exposure. The world is watching us and hoping we won’t take the wrong step.

“If the National Assembly dictates who would be given AOC, then over time they will decide the pilots that will be given operating certificate. I am sure NCAA will not allow it to happen.

ALSO READ  Lawmakers Order CBN To Suspend Policy On Cash Withdrawal Limit

“We are trying to come to a reckoning in the aviation industry but some people are pushing us down. This is not good at all.

“The action of issuing AOC is guided by international protocol. The era of discriminating who to give AOC is gone.

“ This time you earn it by merit. Political interference is a no, no for countries that have the US Category 1 status. This will lead to blacklisting Nigeria.”

On his part, Group Capt John Ojikutu (Rtd), said the AOC process followed strict regulation which could not be denied any airline that met the requirements.

Meanwhile, NAAPE,  through its leadership has asked the National Assembly to steer clear of activities of NCAA), saying that its directive was tantamount to political interference on safety issues.

NAAPE, which is the umbrella body of pilots and engineers in the country, declared that it was out of the purview of the National Assembly to determine who and when the regulatory body should issue the AOC to applicants.

President of NAAPE, Engr Abednego Galadima, stated that the National Assembly was undermining the autonomy of NCAA with its interference on safety issues when it directed the regulatory body not to issue an AOC to the start-up carrier.

Subscribe To Receive Newsletters

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

ShareTweetSendSend
Previous Post

DETAILS: Security Operatives Brutalise Female Doctor, Patients At Abuja Hospital

Next Post

SPECIAL REPORT: How Nigerian Women Are Getting More Involved In Advance Fee Fraud 

MORE STORIES

Flights Grounded In Abuja Over VIPs Movement

Flights Grounded In Abuja Over VIPs Movement

April 26, 2023
Ethiopian Airlines To Invest In Nigeria Air

Ethiopian Airlines To Invest In Nigeria Air

September 18, 2022
Flights Grounded In Abuja Over VIPs Movement

Flight Operation Resumes At Kano Airport

September 12, 2022
FAAN Takes Responsibility Over Escalator Incident At MMIA

FAAN Takes Responsibility Over Escalator Incident At MMIA

September 5, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

TRENDING STORIES

  • DOLLAR RAIN: Senate President Aspirants Luring Colleagues With ‘$200,000 Per Senator’ — Ndume Alleges

    DOLLAR RAIN: Senate President Aspirants Luring Colleagues With ‘$200,000 Per Senator’ — Ndume Alleges

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SPECIAL REPORT: Despite Lack Of Funds Nigeria Gifts ₦806 Million To Guinea Bissau (See Implications)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SPECIAL REPORT: 49 Kidnapping Hotspots On South-West Roads Identified

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • WEEKEND GIST: Meet Amar Bharati, Man Who Has Held Right-Hand Up For 45 Years

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • US Women Group Condemns Dokpesi’s Comment On Igbo Presidency

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2023: Is Yekini Amoda Ogunlere The Real Name Of Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Meet Man With Over 2600 Court Cases, See What He Did To Guinness For Publishing His Record

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • EXPOSED: How NPDC MD, Ali Zahra, IOCs are Sponsoring Inter-Ethnic Crisis in Delta State

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • (OPINION) Tales the country told me: Hilda Baci & Seun Kuti, By Reuben Abati

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • WEEKEND GIST: Meet F.C Smith World’s Longest Serving Prisoner Jailed At 24 Years

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT

RECENT STORIES

DOLLAR RAIN: Senate President Aspirants Luring Colleagues With ‘$200,000 Per Senator’ — Ndume Alleges

DOLLAR RAIN: Senate President Aspirants Luring Colleagues With ‘$200,000 Per Senator’ — Ndume Alleges

May 24, 2023
(OPINION) Tales the country told me: Hilda Baci & Seun Kuti, By Reuben Abati

(OPINION) Tales the country told me: Hilda Baci & Seun Kuti, By Reuben Abati

May 24, 2023
We Don’t Know Chibok Girls’ Whereabouts – Military

We Don’t Know Chibok Girls’ Whereabouts – Military

May 19, 2023
El-Rufai Marks Nine  Companies of Former Gov Makarfi For Demolition

El-Rufai Marks Nine  Companies of Former Gov Makarfi For Demolition

May 19, 2023
EXPOSED: How NPDC MD, Ali Zahra, IOCs are Sponsoring Inter-Ethnic Crisis in Delta State

EXPOSED: How NPDC MD, Ali Zahra, IOCs are Sponsoring Inter-Ethnic Crisis in Delta State

May 19, 2023

THE UNION NIGERIA

TheUnionNigeria.com is an independent, nonprofit news website that seeks to promote transparency and accountability through robust and objective reporting. We aim to critically engage you with news reports, Opinions, Editorials, Politics, Business Sports, Entertainment news, Lifestyle, Education, Videos, Photos, Documents and investigative reports.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

GET NEW POST ALERT

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

NEWS SOURCES

  • Africa.com
  • Businessday
  • Channels Television
  • Daily Independent
  • Daily Times
  • Daily Trust
  • Leadership Newspaper
  • National Daily
  • NewsDiary Online
  • Nigerian Tribune
  • Economic Confidential
  • Peoples Gazette
  • PM News
  • Pointblanknews
  • Premium Times
  • Punch
  • The Guardian
  • The Nation
  • The Sun
  • Thisday
  • TV360 Nigeria
  • Vanguard

©The Union Nigeria | Published By Flying Dutchman Limited.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Judiciary
    • Security
    • Crime
    • Special Reports
  • Politics
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Communication
    • Energy
    • Maritime
    • Oil & Gas
    • Technology
    • Tourism
  • Health
  • Education
  • Arts & Life
    • Art
    • Books
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Athletics
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Interviews
  • Press Freedom
  • Columns
  • TUN TV
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US

©The Union Nigeria | Published By Flying Dutchman Limited.