Arik withdraws flight services to FAAN officials, others

THE peace process initiated by the Federal Government last week to resolve the face-off between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), various aviation agencies and Arik Air over the mounting debts of the carrier and eventual grounding of services may have come under threat.Reason: The management of the airline was said to have directed its officials to deny flight service to the Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi and others perceived to have been directly or indirectly responsible for the crisis that left its operations grounded.A very reliable source in the Ministry of Aviation told The Guardian that all the station managers of the airlines were instructed to refuse the FAAN chief, his directors and some top officials of the Ministry of Aviation opportunity to purchase tickets of the airline to any destination in the country.The source said the matter had been communicated to the agencies, with a view to make alternative arrangements for their trips so that they would not be caught unaware by the new directive.Spokesman for the airline, Banji Ola simply said: 'I am not aware', when The Guardian sought clarification on the matter.Media Adviser for the Minister, Joe Obi, could not be reached for comment as his phones were switched off.Spokesman for the FAAN, Akin Olukunle, said in the spirit of reconciliation brokered by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, it would not be proper to comment on the issue.At the parley held in Abuja on Saturday, the Federal Government scribe appealed to both parties to, 'eschew every provocation that may have arisen as a result of this unfortunate misunderstanding'.'Accordingly, all the exchange of accusations and allegations are vitiated and so of no consequence. On behalf of the Ministry of Aviation and the Management of Arik Air, we apologise to all travellers for the inconveniencies this unfortunate misunderstanding may have caused them'.It would be recalled that aviation unions had on Thursday, picketed the operations of the airline for its huge indebtedness, which it said ran into about N18 billion, while FAAN specifically reeled out figures amounting to N7.1 billion owed it by the airline.But Arik, through its Managing Director, Chris Ndulue, disputed the figure, insisting that the carrier was only owing FAAN N1.7 billion.The matter took a different dimension when Arik Air decided to ground all its domestic operations, citing unfavourable and hostile environment.
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