A week after Arik Air planes were grounded due to a dispute with Atlas Petroleum, Nigeria’s aviation authorities have decided to lift the suspension on the airline’s operations.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Wednesday, after intensive negotiations and discussions between the involved parties, ultimately leading to the resolution of the conflict and the subsequent permission for Arik Air to resume its services.
“The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, and the DG of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo has successfully resolved the impasse between Arik Air and Atlas Petroleum,” he said.
“By this resolution, Arik Air will begin operations today. The priority of the Minister and the NCAA remains to ensure safe and secure air travel for all passengers. Arik Air passengers are currently checking in for scheduled flights.” he added.
On June 30, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, ordered the immediate suspension of Arik Air aircraft operations without providing any reason for his decision.
However, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) explained that the action was due to a directive from the enforcement department of the FCT High Court regarding Arik’s $2.5m debt to Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.
It said that Arik Air, having exhausted all legal avenues to set aside a $2.5 million debt owed to one Atlas Petroleum, the enforcement department of the FCT High Court enforced an Order regarding the debt by taking possession of two aircraft with Registration No: B737-700/ 5N-MJF, B737-800/ 5N-MJQ, DASH8-Q400 and 5N-BKX in satisfaction of the judgment debt.
It added that Copies of the Order and Certificate of Judgment were also served on the agency and the Minister.