……stakeholders worried over the staff and AMCON capability to run the airlineThe Asset Management company of Nigeria, AMCON, has finally taken over the management of Arik airline.
At a news briefing on the development, head corporate communications of amcon, Mr. Jude Nwabuzor explained that the take over became necessary following the financial debt burden the airline was immersed in.He listed this to include accumulated staff salaries, default in its lease payment and insurance, poor corporate governance, demotivated pilots, poor safety measures among others.
Reacting to the intervention, minister of State aviation, senator Hadi Sirika said this was timely and would help to enhance the long term value of arik Air and revitalise the airline’s ailing operations and sustain safety standards.
Speaking on the takeover by AMCOM, former chief pilot of Nigerian Airways and member of the Aviation Round Table, Captain Dale Ore said the development is very unfortunate.
“It is very unfortunate but am not excited about it because AMCOM does not have that capability to run an airline. I hope the workers will not be thrown out”, Ore said .
The veteran aviator however, advised AMCOM to look for good hands that can manage the ailing airline to profitability. He also said that.
The President of the National Association of Aircraft Engineers and Pilots NAAPE, Comrade Isaac Balami said he was very surprised hearing the news.
“Am surprised AMCOM took over Arik because I know it is over 100 billion Naira debt being owed. I also know that at some point Arik Arik was valued at 3 billion US dollars. I don’t know Arik has depreciated all that, for AMCOM to take over. it is surprising and that sends a strong signal to the aviation industry. AMCOM should however, look for people who who can turn the place around and not playing politics with it “.
In his own views, Secretary General of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, Comrade Saidu Abdulrasaq said that Arik Air is only paying for what they stole from Nigeria.
” Arik Air stole Nigerian properties without paying anything. That is why we are asking about Nigerian Airways. Federal Government should rename Arik to Nigerian Airways. The government should be serious this time to find out how, why and how much Nigerian Airways was sold”, Comrade Saidu said.