FirstNation Airline premises sealed up

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

The operational premises of First Nation, a domestic airline, has been sealed up by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,. This is coming barely 24 hours after the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Yemi Adelakum queried a catering company, Skycatering Company Limited for leasing out its facility to the airline.

The reason for the shutting of the facility by the agency remained unknown as at the time of filing this report, but the management of  FAAN may be acting  on the directive of the permanent secretary.

Skycatering Company was a subsidiary of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, but like the Skypower Aviation Handling Company, SAHCOL, that was not liquidated by the government in 2003, the company had been operating independently ever since with a General Manager who reports regularly to the ministry.

Reacting to the sealing up of its premises, FirstNation said it has a valid lease that is still subsisting on the premises. According to a statement signed by Luke Terver-Uzer “ Firstnation hereby clarifies the position in relationship to our premises located at Skypower catering MMA Ikeja, Lagos and hereby confirm that we do have subsisting and valid lease on the premises.  However, following the development of today, we have made representation to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and FAAN to find resolution.”

“We are confident that the Federal Ministry of Aviation has good intention and will not pursue policies that is detrimental to industry growth and employment.”

“We will continue to work with both the Federal Ministry of Aviation and FAAN in good faith to ensure the maintenance of the support services provided at this location that is vital to the airline industry.”

A source said that the  Ministry of Aviation Permanent Secretary was in a meeting with some Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, in the aviation sector to discuss the sealing off and other major issues in the sector.

It will be recalled that the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Yemi Adelakum had on Thursday directed the management of the catering company to immediately forward to it through FAAN the approval it received before allowing FirstNation to use the facility.

He also queried the boldness of the firm for collecting money from the airline without authorization from the ministry.


- Culled from : http://www.vanguardngr.com