N858.5 Million debt: Crisis looms over planned airports closure
*Airlines to divert flights to other aerodromes
*Operators plan fresh logistics
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it is withdrawing services from Gombe, Kebbi and Bebi airports over N858.6million indebtedness to the agency.
A statement by spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said this action has become imperative, disclosing that the management of Gombe airport is indebted to the authority to the tune of N607,289,972, while Kebbi and Bebi airports are indebted to the tune of N124,547,240 and N76,772,948 respectively without any concerted effort to pay up the debt.
She said FAAN has issued a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) to this effect so as to give operators into the airports the opportunity to review their logistics plan.
Meanwhile, the plan to shut the three aerodromes has led to panic by airlines and passengers who had booked their flights before FAAN’s planned action.
Many airlines were today seen making frantic efforts to get across to already booked passengers to the three destinations of the new position as they make alternate airports closer to the airports of choice.
Other airports that FAAN considered to shut are Osubi, Warri, Gombe and Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos over alleged indebtedness.
In a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Saturday, FAAN stated that it will be withdrawing Aviation Security, fire-fighting and rescue operations from Osubi, Gombe and MMA2 from midnight of Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Consequently, Arik Air said it will be suspending its flights to Osubi Airport, Gombe Airport and move Port Harcourt flights out of MMA2 from today, December 10, 2018 until further notice.
The carrier advised Warri passengers to use Benin Airport as alternate while Gombe passengers are to use Bauchi Airport as alternate.
Spokesman for the airline, Mr. Banji Ola said all Arik Air flights to Omagwa Airport Port Harcourt will as from the same date operate from Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal One otherwise known as General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
In Lagos, many are already envisaging congestion at the domestic airport terminal otherwise known as General Aviation Terminal (GAT) as airlines plan to shift their operations to the area to avoid being cut in the web of crises that would ensue.
An aviation security expert who spoke to woleshadarenews under condition of anonymity said FAAN’s action would lead to crises, urging the agency and airport managers to handle the delicate situation with tact.
The MMA2 may be worse hit considering the traffic the terminal processes daily. Arik, Medview, Aero Contractors, Azman, Max and Dana are the carriers using the terminal. These airlines collectively handle about 60 per cent of the traffic in and out of Lagos.
The FAAN’s action is reminiscent of action taken by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) September this year when it shut Osubi airport over huge debts by the aerodrome operator.
Most of the aerodromes are hugely indebted to NAMA just as paucity of funds has stretched the finances of the airspace agency as many airlines, airports and airstrips operators have reneged in paying for services rendered by the agency which relies on revenue generated from its services to pay workers and maintain its highly powerful navigation equipment which run on electricity or generating plants for 24 hours.
NAMA had in a circular issued on August 29, 2018 said it was withdrawing Air Traffic Services (ATC) from Osubi Airport from 0000 hours on September 3, 2018 until further notice. The agency however however gave no reason for the action.
In order to minimise the disruption of travel plans of its valued customers, Arik Air said all its flights into Osubi Airport Warri from Lagos and Abuja would be diverted to land at the Benin Airport from Monday, September 3, 2018, until the Warri Airport is reopened.
The action of NAMA forced the operator of the airstrip/airport to reconcile its debts with the agency because the airport was very strategic to oil firms, players in the oil and gas sector and its proximity to many places in Delta State.
The agency was facing great difficulty in funding the maintenance of its critical equipment as well as payment of staff remunerations and pensions to its retired personnel owing to airlines’ huge indebtedness to it.
NAMA provides very critical services fundamental to flight operations including air traffic control, visual and non-visual aids, aeronautical telecommunication services that enhance commercial, private and military aircraft which fly in and out of Nigeria’s airspace.
Google+