Cally Air managed by aero contractors for the Cross River state Government may soon experience severe turbulence as an Agricultural company and waste manager is appointed to take over the operations of Cally Air.
While Cally Air is yet to free itself from the reported N900 million debts owed its technical partner, Aero Contractors, the problem of the airline has further been compounded with the alleged beef over concession of Cally Air between the former governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade and his successor Bassey Otu.
The icing on the cake was the recent announcement by the governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu through the Secretary to the state government Prof. Owan Umoh in a statement of the immediate cancellation of the tripartite coordination agreement between the Cross River State, Harrier Global Services Limited and Aero contractors company Limited.
In the statement, the governor announced Meler Global Resources Limited as the airline lease manager for Cross River State effective June 21, 2023.
Investigation revealed that, the new lease manager has no connection with aviation but an agricultural company with specialty in business of agriculture and allied products, food processing and marketing services/ agency, import&export, hospitality services, general contractor and general merchandise.
A Google search revealed that, Meler’s Global Resources LTD incorporated in Oyo, Nigeria with registration Number 085541. It was registered on 17 Dec 2012 and its current status is unknown. Company’s registered office address is House 1RD 16 Crescent PDCO Estate General Oyo, Oyo. Type of entity, Private Company Limited by shares.
This company was awarded contract in February 2020 for street sweeping and litre collection by the state government.
It is being alleged in many quarters that, the Governor has used corruption and fraud as a basis to cancel the aero contractors and Harrier contract, then entered into what looks like a potentially corrupt transaction.
About Cally Air
Cally Air is a Nigerian carrier based at Calabar Airport. The airline is a joint venture between The Cross River State Government and DANA Group, under a public-private agreement. Cally Air commenced operations with daily services from Calabar Airport to Abuja and Lagos on 01-Aug-2021.
The state government acquired two aircraft for Cally Air on 16-Jul-2021, Aero Contractors was to operate the aircraft for six months in the first instance and until it has its full management team and a full Air Operator’s certificate, AOC.
