Aviation industry unions in Nigeria have jointly written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene in the grounding of Arik Air’s aircraft by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), expressed shock and concern over the grounding of the airline’s fleet, which has intensified frustrations among passengers and exacerbated existing challenges in the country’s air travel sector.
In the letter dated August 1, 2024, and signed by Ocheme Aba (General Secretary, NUATE), Frances Akinjole (Principal Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN), and Olayinka Abioye (General Secretary, NAAPE), the unions highlighted that the grounding was linked to a $2.5 million debt between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. They emphasized that the aircraft in question belonged to secured creditors and should not have been seized over the debt.
The unions stated that the grounding has created severe frustration among Arik Air’s passengers and threatened the livelihoods of approximately 2,000 direct staff and 16,000 dependents. They warned that this situation could worsen the socio-economic conditions in Nigeria, affecting third-party vendors, service providers, and the earnings of various aviation agencies, including NAMA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The unions also noted that a court order directed all parties to maintain the status quo, arguing that the fleet of aircraft should not have been subject to the attachment writ. They appealed to President Tinubu to call all parties, especially government agencies, to order and allow Arik Air to continue its operations while the issues are being resolved. They emphasized the need for the President’s intervention to prevent further negative impacts on the aviation industry and the broader Nigerian economy.
In response, NAMA issued a statement explaining that the grounding of the aircraft was in compliance with a court order related to the debt owed to Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. The statement clarified that the airline’s operations were not entirely suspended, but the affected aircraft were grounded pending the resolution of the court case.
The unions reiterated their confidence in President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda and expressed their hope that his administration would involve their unions in aviation industry matters to ensure the sector’s stability and growth.
