The Federal Government may move to seize and liquidate the assets of Dana Air to refund passengers, travel agents, and other entities owed by the airline, according to Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Keyamo made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the ministry’s fourth-quarter stakeholders’ engagement, themed “Leveraging Public Feedback to Drive Excellence in Aviation Services.”
He stated that he has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to launch a full investigation into why refunds owed by Dana Air remain unsettled months after the airline’s suspension.
The minister emphasised that suspending Dana Air’s operations in April 2024 was a necessary and life-saving decision, saying the government prioritized safety after receiving “damning reports” about the airline’s operational standards and safety record.
According to him, the NCAA had already reached the decision to ground the airline, but he urged them to act swiftly in the interest of Nigerians.
“For Dana, the problem was a choice between safety and disaster,” Keyamo said. “We didn’t take the commercial angle as priority. The priority was safety, and we all saw the reports on the table about their safety record and lack of standards that put lives at risk.”
The minister added that if Dana Air had continued flying, the country might have witnessed a major aviation tragedy.
Keyamo disclosed that he has instructed the acting Director-General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, to determine how affected passengers and ticket agents will be refunded.
“I have asked Najomo to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded,” he said.
He noted that any individual or entity associated with Dana Air will not be allowed to return to the aviation sector, whether through a new AOC or another business, until all outstanding debts are settled.
The minister revealed that one of the solutions being considered is the liquidation or sale of Dana Air’s assets.
“We should look at their assets. There are assets still available. Let them sell their assets. Let us recover revenue and pay people,” he said. “NCAA should go after their assets so they do not get away with it.”
Dana Air’s operations were suspended on April 24, 2024, a day after one of its aircraft veered off the runway at Lagos airport. Subsequent internal safety assessments, some conducted two years prior, indicated that the airline was unfit to fly.
Since the suspension, many passengers and travel agents with pending bookings have complained of being unable to access refunds.
The government says it is now determined to ensure those affected are compensated and that no aviation operator evades accountability.
