We Paid Faan Over N18.9bn – Arik Air

BEVERLY HILLS, April 21, (THEWILL) – Arik Air has revealed that it had paid over N18.9 billion, as airport charges since 2006 till date, into the coffers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)

The revelation follows the action by aviation unions' workers who disrupted Arik's operations at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, over alleged N12.5 billion debts.

Chris Ndulue, Managing Director, Arik, described the disruption of its operations by FAAN workers and the union members as a violation of legal attempts to reconcile figures between the authority and the airline.

He revealed that of the N18.9 billion paid by the airline into FAAN account, the authority only acknowledged the sum of N14.4 billion, saying it was startling that FAAN could not account for the outstanding N7.5 billion that mysteriously disappeared from its account.

Although he declined to disclose the sums lost to the disrupted flights on Wednesday, Ndulue however disclosed that the airline was deliberating over other measures to seek redress over the matter as its management met the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to formally protest the illegal action.

“The airline over time had made efforts to work out an amicable resolution of the disputed figures through legal representations in response to a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos by FAAN,” he said.

“FAAN has not been forthcoming with details on how to resolve the impasse despite ministerial interventions through committees set up to reconcile the figures.

“The resort to self-help by FAAN workers and aviation union members to attempt to recover alleged debts through intimation would not force Arik Air to pay for services that had not been formally documented.

“Arik Air would continue to explore existing legal instrument and channels to fight for its legitimate claims,” he concluded.