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Air Peace may sue FAAN, counts losses as airport manager disrupts operations
Air Peace airline disclosed that it has lost millions of naira as a result of the disruption of its Enugu airport operations, for over two hours which it termed ‘sabotage’ by Mgbemena Orjiakor, the current Enugu airport manager.
Speaking to newsmen today, Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyema, said that this morning , the airline’s operation was shut down by Orjiakor over N7 million debt, which the airline showed proves to have paid.
“I got a call this morning that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) stopped our operations in Enugu over N7 million debt, which we have already paid. The airport manager did not go back to check his books to know if we actually paid or not but hurriedly stopped our operations, a situation that is costing us millions of naira.
“We do not know if the airport manager is sponsored by someone to bring down Air Peace because even after Lagos sent evidence of the payment, rather than own up to the fact that the agency lacked proper accounting, the agency said the airline is owing an outstanding N1.8 million. This is why I said this act is sabotage.”
Onyema lamented that an airline that owes the government over N11 billion was allowed to operate that morning but Air Peace was temporary shut down over N7 million it already paid.
“When I called the Enugu airport manager to complain to him about the situation, he answered me rudely by saying I was talking out of ignorance. This man is not fit to be in that position. This same airport manager does not know that he is employed today because of the airline. How can he call me names?
“If we are not adequately compensated for our losses, we promise the government that we will go to court. This is part of the reasons why airlines in Nigeria do not survive,” the Air Peace boss said.
“I had to call the managing director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma who was not aware of the situation. He politely told me that he will handle it and he was very sorry about the situation. The director of commercials also got across to me and also told me he was looking into the situation and they will get back to me.
“The Director of Human Resources also got across to me and pleaded with me. But Mgbemena Orjiakor, the Enugu Station Manager, will have to explain to the world who sent him because I believe this is outright sabotage. That station manager was not remorseful and very insulting,” he added.
He noted that the outcome of this is that the airline will not be able to do its night flight into Enugu yesterday because Enugu has 7pm cut off time, adding that of all days, he chose a Friday, which is the busiest day of all airlines to shut down their operations.
In response to the development, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s acting general manager corporate Affairs also confirmed that the airline had paid all its outstanding debt before the airline was shut down.
Yakubu apologised for the inconveniences the situation must have created for the airline and its passenger and promised that the agency will see to it that such doesn’t repeat itself.
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