Flight to be suspended across several Nigerian airports as Faan withdraws its services over debts

FLIGHTS will be suspended across several cities in Nigeria as from tomorrow after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (Faan) notified airlines of the withdrawal of its services to some local airports including Lagos as well as Gombe and Warri.

Due to the fact that the authorities of these airports owe Faan substantial sums, the agency has decided to suspend operations to the Osubi Airport, Warri, Gombe Airport and the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. Arik Air’s communications manager, Adebanji Ola, confirmed the development, pointing out that Faan had written to the airline, informing it about the development.

Mr Ola said: “In a notice to airmen issued on December 8, Faan stated that it will be withdrawing aviation security, fire fighting and rescue operations from Osubi, Gombe and Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2) from midnight of December 9. Consequently, Arik Air will be suspending its flights to Osubi Airport, Gombe Airport and move Port Harcourt flights out of MMA2 from December 10, until further notice.

“All Arik Air flights to Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, will as from the same date operate from Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal One otherwise known as General Aviation Terminal.  Arik Air regrets any inconvenience the closure of the three airports may cause its esteemed customers and the airline hopes the issue between Faan and the airport authorities will be resolved soonest."

He advised Warri passengers to use Benin Airport as an alternative while Gombe passengers are to use Bauchi airport for the meantime. According to Faan, it is owed N3.9bn by MMA2 alone since it commenced operations on September 8, 2007.

MMA2 is being operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services (Basl), owned by Dr Wale Babalakin and according to Faan, the money it is owed  was for the provision of electricity, rent, conference and hotel services and the 5%  remittance as agreed in the contract. In a letter addressed to the Basl chief executive, Faan gave the breakdown of the indebtedness as at July 31, 2018 as N1.4bn for the provision of aviation security another N143m for fire/safety costs, N2.1m for marshalling and N1.9bn for management costs.