The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the grounding of all Arik Air aircraft, further worsening the current aircraft shortage in the country.
The CEO of Arik Air, Roy Ilegbodu (in receivership), has slammed the Minister over the sudden decision to ground the airline’s aircraft, describing it as a “disastrous” and “unjustified” measure that ignores ongoing legal proceedings and puts private legal proceedings above the public interest.
In a statement, Minister Ilegbodu expressed deep disappointment and dissatisfaction over the Minister’s decision, which was taken without any warning or consultation.
“This is a devastating blow to our passengers, employees, and the Nigerian economy,” he said.
Ilegbodu blamed the Minister for ignoring the airline’s commitment to connecting people and facilitating trade, especially on major domestic routes.
He said, “The grounding of our fleet will leave passengers stranded and inflate already high travel costs, hurting everyday Nigerians who rely on our flights for business, family, and essential activities.”
The CEO also expressed outrage at the Minister’s disregard for ongoing legal proceedings.
“We are perplexed as to why the grounding of our fleet was ordered, despite clear court directives to maintain status quo. This is an overreach of the ongoing judicial processes and directives of court, and it undermines the rule of law.”
Ilegbodu called on the authorities to reconsider the decision and lift the suspension to allow Arik Air to continue serving the nation and supporting the economy.
“We are committed to following the legal process and have full faith in the judiciary to resolve these matters fairly”.
The CEO finally expressed gratitude to passengers and employees for their support and understanding during these difficult times.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our esteemed passengers”.
