LAGOS—A COALITION of aviation and civil society groups has condemned the role being played by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in establishment of the country’s new national carrier, Virgin Nigeria.
The group is particularly peeved at the NCAA’s claim that Virgin Nigeria had applied for Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) when there is no proof that the company had been registered by the corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Organisations in the coalition include the air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN); National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE); National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE); Aviation Roundtable (ART); the Socio-Economic Rights Initiative (seri) AND Nigerian Aviation safety Initiative (NASI).
Rising from a meeting in Lagos at the weekend, the coalition in a communique issued at the end of the meeting recalled the similar role played by the regulatory agency in the botched Air Nigeria project, which process of formation is a semblance of the Virgin Nigeria project.
The group stated: “We note with extreme concern the proposed take-off date of the carrier, Virgin Nigeria, even when the company is yet to be incorporated. Furthermore, we are equally apprehensive of the claims by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that it has since two months now been processing the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for an obviously yet to be incorporated company.
“We condemn in very strong terms the claims from the NCAA, reminiscent of the ignoble role played by the same authority during the Air Nigeria saga when it claimed a displayed AOC had been issued to the still-birth airline.”
The coalition frowned at the double standards exhibited by the Aviation Ministry in favour of Virgin Atlantic Airways in the airline’s choice as strategic investor and technical partner in the new carrier, asking that the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA0 of Liquidated Nigeria Airways be thrown open for competitive bidding by indigenous carriers than a situation where the routes are reserved for Virgin Nigeria.
According to the group, this is the only way Nigeria can stem the tide of capital flight estimated at over $2 billion annually.
Other demands raised in the communique signed by representatives of the participating groups are:
*That government should display total commitment in addressing the creditor and labour issues involved in the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
*That government should implement recommendations of the Justice Obiora Nwasota Panel on the looting of Nigeria Airways funds, recover the money and prosecute all those involved in the looting.
*That the National Assembly should intervene to ensure that Nigeria Airways’ workers and pensioners are paid their entitlements and arrears of salaries and pensions without further delay.
*That the assets of Nigeria Airways which belong to Nigerians should not be misappropriated through a fraudulently inspired liquidation process.
*That all the assets of Nigeria Airways such as BASAs, subsidiary companies and other properties should be disposed of in an open and transparent manner if the government is sincere about the liquidation and privatisation process of Nigeria Airways.
*That the coalition views with extreme concern an emerging trend in the aviation industry where chief executives of parastatal are unceremoniously relieved of their position without recourse to due process and replaced by friends and former colleagues of the aviation minister in the finance and insurance industry who have no antecedents in air transport or safety management.
*That in the overall interest of the integrity and safety of the air transport industry, there should be a halt to the practice and a reversal of such appointments already made.
*That the practice of relieving chief executives and other workers of their jobs for no just cause or explanation reminiscent of the military era is highly undemocratic and stands condemnable.
*That we find it extremely curious and unfortunate that the aviation minister cannot find aviation professionals to work with, especially giving the vast array of highly experienced and qualified serving retired aviation personnel who abound in the country.
