Scores of Passengers Stranded as Aviation Workers Ground Arik Air's Operations Over Debt

 

According to a report on Premium Times, on Wednesday morning, the operations of Nigeria’s largest indigenous airline, Arik Air, were disrupted by members of several aviation unions over an alleged N12.4 billion debt owed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

 

Some sources disclosed that 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 6.30am as placards-carrying unionists grounded the operation of the airline, adding that 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.'

 

In a statement, Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) stated: "We are engaged in picketing exercise against Arik Air over its indebtedness to FAAN in the sum of N12.5b."

 

When contacted, FAAN’s spokesperson, Yakubu Datti, confirmed the picketing of the airline, but said he could not provide additional information as the action was a union affair.

 

The spokesperson of Arik Air, Ola Banji, described the claim that it owed FAAN N12.4 billion as 'spurious,' and that by blocking its operations, the workers were taking laws into their hands. He added that the airline was already challenging the claim of the union members at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

 

He said, "The action by the workers’ union is connected with the long-standing and unsubstantiated claim by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of spurious indebtedness of the airline to the agency which is now before a Federal High Court in Lagos at the instance of FAAN.

"The current situation is deeply out of control of Arik Air and the management of the airline has been compelled to suspend all domestic operations for today. This will remain in force until such a time the unfortunate situation is resolved," he said.