The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • How to reduce air fares, by operator

    The Chief Executive Officer, Westlink Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, has canvassed local refining of aviation fuel as one of the measures to reduce domestic air fare and boost profitability of the airlines.

    He said this in Lagos during a chat with journists. Mshelia said if the cost of aviation fuel is reduced significantly, attendant component in airline costs would also be reduced to ensure profitable operations domestic carriers, which commit over 60 per cent of their operating costs into aviation fuel.

    Other costs that operators have to contend with are the huge cost of offshore maintenance of their aircraft, aircraft spares and parts.

    According to him, although the aviation industry is riddled with problems, with the introduction of some new policies, the government has stepped in to eliminate these problems, especially the enforcement of zero tariff on aircraft spare parts

    He said that once zero tariff policy comes through, airlines would stop paying for importing spare parts and that could translate into some profit for them.

    Mshelia said :” We send crude out, it is refined and sold back to us at exorbitant cost. I believe that if we refine our own aviation fuel, it would cause the price to come down and air fare reduced,” he said.

    Mshelia also called for honest practices by operators, stating that with the right attitude, discipline and will power the industry can be turned around extensively.

    The West Link boss also commended the government for safety through strengthening the regulatory authority, noting that safety could be improved through robust oversight.

    He also described the on going infrastructure upgrade at airports nationwide as part of the strategy by the Federal Government to reposition the aviation sector as a huge revenue earner.

    Mshelia said the infrastructure upgrade could not have come at a better time , after many years of abandonment .

    He said the pace at which the airports are being fixed is enough testimony of the commitment of government to position the aviation sector for national development , using air transportation as a catalyst.

    He said the current transformation across the nation’s airports will put Nigeria back into reckoning regarding air transport industry.

    He predicted that the aviation industry would grow if government and airline operators give it their unalloyed commitment.

  • N52b pay-off: Ex-Airways workers seek Jonathan’s intervention

    Former Nigeria Airways workers owed about N52.8 billion severance pay-off have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to come to their aid.

    They urged Jonathan, through one of their unions-Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(ATSSSAN)-to ensure the payment of the money to the ex-staff of the airline before another national carrier being planned by the Minister of Aviation is floated.

    This was contained in a memo/appeal sent to the President and endorsed on behalf of the aggrieved ex-staff by the acting General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Comrade Olayinka Abioye.

    He said: “It is only proper and expedient that all matters associated with the outstanding pay- off of the Nigeria Airways Limited former employees are finally settled, before the establishment of a National Carrier to avoid complications.”

    In order to expedite the ex-workers demand, Abioye urged the President to mandate the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and the Nigeria Airways liquidator -Babington Ashaye & Co., to submit to Mr. President, a comprehensive report of its activities and proceed therefrom, so as to assist the government in meeting its obligation as being demanded by the former staff.

    He said it was baffling that the former Nigeria Airways’ employees in New York, Paris and London were paid 25 years pay-off in accordance with industry best practice and extant law, while those based in Nigeria were left unpaid. He said many staff of the Nigeria Airways have died while waiting to be paid.

    Meanwhile, Workers of defunct Nigeria Airways in other African countries, have made an appeal to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah to intervene in the matter.

    In a petition to the Minister dated April 15, 2013, entitled: ‘The cry of a suffering and helpless orphan. What is our fate, 10 years after the liquidation of Nigeria Airways,’ the retirees catalogued the pains they have gone through in their attempts to secure their benefits.

    The airline was liquidated in 2003, and in March, 2008, the Nigerian-based workers were paid part of their benefits, while all the West Coast staff who were all present in Lagos in 2008, during this payments were left out.

    The workers based in Lome, Togo, Cotonou, Douala, Cameroon and Libreville disclosed that they had considered following up the approval of the supplementary list by the National Assembly and the Presidency.

    They said: “Unfortunately, we were completely neglected as we were told that the payment was only for the Nigerian workers. The excuse we were given by the paying staff from Abuja, was that the West Coast staff were erroneously not captured in the system.

    “They told us that we would be paid with the supplementary list coming up before the end of 2008. No one could imagine this could take another five to six years.” another aggrieved retiree said.

  • The sign of things to come

    The sign of things to come

    In the first half of this year, the new civil aviation policy which some believe is target against private jet owners;the face-off between theFederal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and some concessionaires characterised aviation sector. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR, reports

    A LOT happened in the aviation sector in the past six months. The Federal Government went after private jet owners, remodelled airports and tinkered with the idea of a national carrier. The sector witnessed some upheavals. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and some concessionaires clashed. FAAN also had a face-off with the Harry Akande-led AIC Group over land ownership. Airlines and their workers too were at each other’s throat.

     

    Airport remodelling

    After over 30 years of abandonment by previous administrations, the Federal Government continued to address the huge gap in infrastructure deficit. It remodelled some airports, leading to the inauguration of terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Benin, Owerri and Enugu.

    Construction is still ongoing in airport terminals in Jos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Makurdi, Ilorin, Ibadan,Akure and Maiduguri in the second leg of the first phase of airports to be remodelled. But these laudable projects have been criticised by some operators in the industry. Among such critics is the outgoing Secretary-General of the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON), Captain Mohammed Joji, who described the projects as cosmetic.

    Joji said the airport terminals may be wearing a new look, but the project lacks transparency, as the contract allegedly did not pass through due process.He opined that the minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, should do more than just mere renovation of airports.

    But, two former ministers of aviation, Felix Hassan Hyat and Mr Samuel Mafuyai, have expressed satisfaction with the airport remodelling project, which they described as long overdue.

    They reasoned that there could have been no better time to fix the rot and decay in airport facilities other than now.

     

    Airport  concessions

    The aviation sector has also been awash with controversies over concession agreements the government signed with some operators. The FAAN has come under the spotlight in its unending face off with one of its concessionaires: Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited; the operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, otherwise known as MMA2.

    FAAN has consistently argued that the concession agreement it signed with the firm is skewed against public interest.

    It has also insisted that it is on the right track, according to the airport authority, of violating court orders.

    FAAN revoked the concession agreement with the firm on the gigantic hotel and conference centre it is building at the local wing of the Lagos Airport.

    FAAN said it had taken over the projects on account of failure of the firm to complete the project at the agreed time.

    Spokesman of aviation agencies and FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati said: “The two projects were to be completed in 2008, but FAAN graciously extended the construction period to July, 2009 however, Bi-Courtney still failed to complete the two projects at the expiration of the extended period.

    “Thus by that termination order, the premises in respect of the two projects have reverted to FAAN automatically, in line with the terms of the agreements.”

    But Bi-Courtney said this is just a figment of FAAN’s imagination as the property validly belongs to Bi-Courtney.

    Hardly had the dust over the termination of the four star hotel and conference centre settled, when the sector was thrown into more confusion as both FAAN and the firm engaged in a game of accusation and counter accusation over the hiring of thugs to pull down billboards at the disputed hotel site.

    FAAN insisted that the firm was acting against the rule because it had lost ownership over the hotel.

    Bi-Courtney said FAAN violated a court order on the issue.

     

    Airport land at MMIA

    Also still ragging is the tussle over ownership of a large parcel of land at the international wing amid claims by FAAN that it had secured ownership via a court ruling last month.

    But, the concessionaire – AIC  Hotel Limited, which was supposed to construct a five star hotel at the site has gone to the Court of Appeal to contest the ruling by the Federal High Court, which ceded ownership of the land to FAAN.

    However, Mr Dati said: ”The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reclaimed the airport land, in protracted dispute between the Authority and AIC Limited owned by Chief Harry Akande, for the construction of a hotel complex at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, following a judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Lagos on June 19, 2013, in favour of FAAN.”

    He said by this judgment, the parcel of land in question has become free for massive infrastructural development at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, under the aerotropolis project, including an ultramodern hotel complex, a multi-storey car park and other related projects, designed to expand facilities at the airport.

     

    Chinese investment

    The Federal Government aannounced plans by Chinese investors to build some airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. The investment is by a consortium under private-public partnership.

    To achieve the objective, a template for investment is being packaged by the government to ensure that the deal’s transparent.

    However, some players in the sector continue to query the rationale for the choice of Chinese investors, who are not known to be key players in the global aviation sector especially in the area of managing airports.

    National carrier

    The goverment’s quest a national carrier was also on the front burner. Officials of the aviation minister unveiled the conditions under which the national carrier could be control.

    According to the minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, efforts at remodelling the airports nationwide would not yield results to make them work.

    As lofty as the plans of government may appear, some stakeholders have cautioned on how to bring about such an airline. Mr Chris Aligbe, chief executive officer of Belujane Konzult, said the time to have a national carrier is long overdue.

    He hinged his clamour on the premise that a national carrier would uphold the image of the country abroad1.

    But the Conference for Aviation Unions and Professional Associations (CAUPA) has said the coming of such an airline should be preceded by the settlement of labour and pensions issues arising from the liquidation of the Nigeria Airways.

    The union according to its convener, Mr Sheri Kyari and the secretary, Mr Austyn Njoku  said it was worried by the unsettled labour and related matters as they affect the workers of the defunct airline who are wallowing in poverty and want.

    The group said it is not opposed to the establishment of a national carrier , but argued that it would create jobs for Nigerians and curtail capital flight that characterized the country’s aviation industry.

    But, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) called on the government to create a level playing field for all carriers, alleging that plans to facilitate over N5billion loan for the promoters of the proposed national carrier is discriminatory.

    Joji said such underhand support for the proposed national carrier was not fair to existing domestic operators, who have been lacking access to such facility.

    He also that the deal by promoters of the proposed national carrier to secure aircraft leasing deal with a European carrier lacks transparency, as the carrier does not have the capacity to deliver, having been indicted previously in an aircraft deal with liquidated national carrier – Nigeria Airways.

     

    Ncaa’s economic regulation of

    domestic airlines

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) came under the searchlight amid observations of its weak oversight on domestic carriers.

    Though, the former director-general of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, was fired by the government during the period under review amid outrage by some industry players, not much could be said to have been achieved after his ouster. But operators believe the new helmsman will do better. Domestic airlines are also grappling with challenges bordering on inability to pay salaries to their workers, which constitute a major threat to safety and security in the sector.

    Though the NCAA is stepping into the crisis, many airlines still owe their workers arrears of salaries.

    Only last months, some 53 workers protested the non-payment of over 36 months’ salaries by Chanchangi Airlines. The workers narrated how they are coping with the ordeal, even as the NCAA had waded into the crisis, but it is yet to yield positive results.

    Another domestic carrier, IRS Airlines is also alleged to owe some category of workers arrears of salaries running into a few months.

    But an official of the airline, who crave not to be named, assured that the matter would be resolved with the intervention of the NCAA.

     

    Aero crisis

    One of the oldest domestic scheduled operators – Aero Airlines – had its fair share of crisis when its workers went on strike for weeks, leading ultimately to the grounding of its operations by the NCAA.

    The management of the airline had directed the sack of over 600 workers, but following pressure by aviation unions, and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the workers were recalled and the airline has since resumed operations.

    Its temporary shutdown of carrier exposed the challenge of under capacity by domestic carriers in the industry as passengers were forced to pay outrageous fares on routes flown by a competitor.

     

    Flouting of aviation regulations

    There was also ‘willful flouting’ of aviation regulations by some private and corporate aircraft operators. Aviation agencies alleged that the Bombardier Global Express belonging to the Rivers State Government flouted aviation rules by not filing a flight plan and declaring passengers manifest at the Akure Airport.

    The aircraft was said to have operated in the airport with expired documents and was subsequently grounded at Port Harcourt Airport.

    The controversy over the ownership status of the aircraft pitched the Rivers State Government against the Ministry of aviation and its agencies, which accused the operators of the aircraft of not adhering to aviation regulations.

    The matter is yet to be resolved, as the aircraft is still grounded at the Port Harcourt Airport.

    Hardly had the dust generated over the Rivers State Aircraft settled when a chopper belonging to AOS Helicopter, scheduled to fly the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to Awka from Benin was delayed at the airport for what aviation agencies described as failure by the pilot to declare passengers manifest and file a flight plan.

    The imbroglio however, forced the governor to abort the trip, even as aviation agencies faulted the pilot for infractions against aviation regulations.

     

    New Civil Aviation policy

    The Federal Government unveiled a new civil aviation policy, which replaced the provisions of the 2006 civil aviation policy that granted autonomy to the NCAA.

    Though some industry players including the AON alleged non-inclusion and input in the making of the new policy, they said nothing was wrong with the 2006 civil aviation regulation endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO).

    They, however, faulted some provisions in the new policy, which seeks to establish the creation of an autonomous economic regulation arm for the industry, other than the NCAA, as well as the creation of a general aviation directorate in the mmnistry of aviation.

  • Etihad Airways tops awards

    ETIhad Airways has swept the Skytrax World Airline Awards’ First Class category, receiving all three awards, for the second year in a row.

    The Abu Dhabi-based airline took home the coveted title of Best First Class for the fourth consecutive year, as well as taking home top honours for Best First Class Seats and Best First Class Catering.

    The awards, which are voted on by travellers from more than 160 countries, were presented at the Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony last week at the Paris Air Show.

    Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “It is a huge accomplishment to take home the top honours in every First Class category again, underlining our leading premium product proposition.

    “Etihad Airways has, in just 10 years of operation, risen rapidly in the Skytrax rankings because we are continually investing in innovative new product and service concepts.

    We believe that world-class hospitality should not be limited to hotels and restaurants, so we are elevating the travel experience by bringing the best of hospitality to every touch point in the journey.

    “The Skytrax World Airline Awards represent a global benchmark for airline excellence because they go straight to the source – the traveller. To be recognised and named by our guests as the best in the world is an affirmation of the value of our unique philosophy and innovation.”

  • Airline operator calls for low interest rate

    THE Federal Government should offer low cost loans to airlines to keep them afloat, an operator has advised.

    In an interview in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways,Captain Edward Boyo, said some governments abroad took such initiative to save airlines from collapse.

    He said: ”But the quickest reform the government can make is to provide low cost capital for the airlines. And it is nothing new; governments in other countries have done it.

    “Every government must protect the economy for the benefit of their people, not opening the economy for foreigners to come and take advantage of them. Due to the high cost of capital in Nigeria, you have a situation where European, American and other foreign companies are coming to drop their aircraft in the Nigeria market. And it is because they have access to cheaper capital

    “The problem that operators have is high financing of aircraft. This is a problem in Nigeria and Africa, generally. We have lower financing costs in Europe and more advanced countries. An aircraft is measured by its airworthiness, not by the age.

    ”The last intervention fund had a good intention from the government, but many airlines did not get the cash. The banks that were generous in funding the airlines got into trouble. Even despite the intervention, to show you how deep airlines were in the negative, the intervention fund was not sufficient.

    “The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had to bail out some of the airlines so that they can survive. That is the job of government. The government has come to the assistance of the airlines. Since the last intervention fund never turned the fortunes of the airlines for better, government felt it needed to improve air transportation system in the country.”

    Boyo listed the problems of domestic airline operators to include low capacity of funding institutions, which hampers aircraft acquisition, high lending rate to airlines that has become a major challenge for many operators and increasing lease rates.

    Others, according to Boyo, are prohibitive maintenance costs, which have made domestic airline operators to fake aircraft abroad for major checks, such as C and D, high import duties and taxes on aircraft parts, which add to operators’spiralling cost.

    On how to attract funding and patronage to domestic airlines, Boyo said safety drives patronage and funding. He added that though the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported recently that Africa’s accident record remarkably improved by 58 per cent in 2011 over 2010 record, it is still well below world average.

  • Why govt is upgrading MMIA

    Why is the Federal Government upgrading infrastructure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos?

    It is to make the airport a hub in West and Central Africa, the coordinating spokesman for aviation, Mr Yakubu Dati, has said.

    The government, he said, was determined that Nigeria meets the minimum requirements for airport facilities in line with global standards.

    The upgrade of facilities, he said, would improve safety and security, such that the airport could drive more passenger and cargo traffic for these was regions.

    He spoke of plans by the government to expand facilities at the MMIA, which he said, would raise the bar in overhauling the safety and security system.

    He said intervention programmes in terminal expansion and passenger facilitation were being executed under the exercise.

    Dati said a template has been designed for the construction of a five-star hotel and multi-layer car park at the airport.

    The project will be private sector driven.

    Such projects, Dati said, would add value to the airport in service delivery and the creation of jobs.

    To attain the hub status, Dati said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is pursuing the certification of the airport in line with the prescribed requirements by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    He said: ”The government is seriously pursuing a hub status for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. This is key given the strategic location of the airport to many parts of the world. Airlines fly over Lagos towards Europe, Middle  East and other West African countries.

    “To take advantage of this strategic window, that explains the reason government is carrying out an aggressive infrastructure upgrade of facilities at the Lagos Airport, to bring them in line with global standards.”

  • Union to picket airlines

    The National President of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu, has said the association is collaborating with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to picket domestic airlines that refused to unionise.

    He said in Lagos that the affected airlines have been given an ultimatum to comply with the directive of the association, warning that failure to comply will attract stingy penalties.

    He explained that apart from the challenge of unionisation, many domestic airlines are owing workers salaries, a development he described as unhealthy for the industry.

    He spoke of plans to take up the matter with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),saying that a disgruntled aviation staff owed salaries is a threat to safety and security in the aviation sector.

    Okewu however appealed to airlines that have not fulfilled their obligation to do so.

    He said: ‘’We are appealing to the airlines to pay their workers salaries. We will not stop appealing to them, considering that they are not unionised. This is because welfare is key for aviation workers. Inability to guarantee the welfare of aviation workers is an instrument that negates safety.

    ‘’That is why we have stepped up the mobilisation for them to pay workers’ salaries promptly. We would also prevail on the NCAA to urge the airlines to pay. We are convinced that a disgruntled staff is an accident waiting to happen.”

    He said from next month, airlines that are not unionised will incur the wrath of the unions, which are set to picket them.

    Okewu added: “We are in discussions with the NLC, TUC to ensure that the airlines do the needful, by getting their organisations unionised. Most of the foreign airlines operating in Nigeria are unionised, but the domestic carriers are not complying.

    ‘’We have given them till next month to take a decision. If the airlines fail to comply, ATSSSAN will seek help from TUC, and NLC to picket the erring airlines.”

    Meanwhile, Okewu is seeking the position of financial secretary in TUC in the forthcoming election, where he hopes to utilise his wealth of experience to strengthen performance.

    He said:” We are taking TUC to the next level. With my wealth of experience and the convergence of interests , I am convinced we will strengthen performance .”

  • NIMET workers petition Oduah over directors’ tenure

    NIMET workers petition Oduah over directors’ tenure

    Some workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) have petitioned the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, over an alleged “undue favouritism” by the management.

    The management’s conduct, they alleged, breached the Federal Civil Service rules.

    Under the auspices of Concerned Staff of NIMET, the workers alleged that the Director-General (DG), Dr. Anthony Anuforom, is aiding some directors and general managers to stay put in office. The officers are said to have spent more than the required eight years in office.

    The DG, they claimed, is covering up for the offices “because of personal relationships”.

    NIMET’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mrs. Eva Azinge, said the management was aware of the issues raised by the workers but she absolved the DG of blame.

    The workers’letter, which was also sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Director of the State Security Service (SSS), and  the NIMET DG reads: “The painful but regrettable favouritism and preferential application of tenure system and promotions being executed by the management of NIMET is in total disregard to the Federal Government’s policy and Public Service rules.”

    Those alleged to have overstayed in office are General Manager, Human Resources, Alhaji Auwal Salisu Mohammed; Director, Training School, Oshodi in Lagos, Mr Ngana Dominc Tagbo and Director of Administration and Supplies Alhaji Garba Adamu.

    The petitioners claimed that Alhaji Adamu refused to act on the matter because he was also a beneficiary, adding that he was a “stumbling block” to the advancement of others.

    The petitioners attached some documents, including letters of the appointments of some of the officers whom they claimed have overstayed in office to other petition.

    Mrs Azinge explained why the agency’s helmsman cannot intervene in the matter. She said: “I know that this situation exists, but I didn’t know that it was already out in the media. It is just that those who are responsible for doing the right documentations have not been able to do so, and the director-general could not be seen to put pressure on people to do their jobs, because it will seem as if he has interest in the matter.

    “I can assure you that the director-general of NIMET is not covering up for anybody. The issue of cover-up those not exist. Now that the issue has been brought into public domain, we will look into the matter and take action.”

     

  • ‘Don’t carry banned goods’

    Cargo agents at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos have been warned to desist from shipping dangerous and prohibited goods onboard of aircraft.

    The agents have also been urged to check any item given them for shipment from importers or exporters.

    At a seminar by the Greater Washington Logistics at the Lagos Airport, the companies advised the cargo agents to report any suspected cargo to the appropriate authorities or face sanction.

    The Safety Inspector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Austin Eboigbe, advised the cargo agents to identify any dangerous goods items they are collecting from clients.

    He noted that several air incidents happen because of improper carriage of dangerous goods onboard of airplanes, adding that the agency was investigating incidents relating to dangerous goods that were shipped into the country.

    He listed these as matches, fireworks, lighter, gas cooker, body spray and magnets. He warned that the agency would withdraw the licence of any agent or sanction any airline found wanting.

    He said: “Although there are some quantities of liquids that are allowed onboard of planes, just for information, your licence can be withdrawn as an agent while the airline can be fined too. We expect you (agents) to think about the safety of the aircraft and the passengers onboard in the cause of carrying out your business.”

    Head, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Local Airport, Mr Nasir Kotangora, appealed to the cargo agents to check any drugs given to them for importation before shipment. He warned that if they are caught with any illicit drug, they would be sanctioned.

    The Group Head, Regional Business & Cargo Shed Manager, Greater Washington Logistics, Mr Agbongban Bright, urged cargo agents to follow safety standards and recommendation practices laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in carrying out their jobs.

     

  • ‘I lost two daughters to hard times’

    The Nigeria  Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA)  has brokered a truce between Chanchangi Airlines and 53 of its workers over unpaid salaries. The salaries were said to have accrued since 2010 when the carrier sent the workers on compulsory leave.

    NCAA’s intervention comes on the heels of a protest by the workers’ protest to intimatethe authority of their unpaid salaries, for 36 months.

    The workers said they were asked to stay off work when the airline started having challenges and have not been paid since. They said efforts to draw the management’s attention to their plight failed.

    Before staging a protest  at NCAA Headquarters at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the workers demonstrated at the ticket counters of the new domestic terminal.

    Led by the President of the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre, Moses Ojiekomhan, they expressed disappointment over the failure to pay them, insisting that they would seek justice.

    Ojiekomhan said it was inhuman to allow the workers to suffer untold hardship, while the airline is running smoothly, adding that it would be better to pay them off, instead of allowing their fate to hang in the balance.

    He urged NCAA to ensure that Chanchangi discharged its obligation to the workers.

    Some of the workers, he said, had lost family members because of the difficulties they have been facing since they were sent on leave.

    NCAA’s Director of Human Resources, Mr Austin  Amadi Ifeanyi, and   Director of Consumer Protection, Alhaji Adamu Abdulahi, assured the workers that the authority would look into their grievances.

    They praised the workers for being peaceful, noting that it is NCAA’s duty to ensure that all goes well in the sector.

    The airline Station Manager of Chanchangi Airline, Mr Babadiya Ahmed, has said the workers’ grievance were being looked into, adding that they was not sacked.

    He said they were asked to proceed on compulsory leave due to operational issues adding that the matter would from be resolved.

    An aggrieved worker, who identified himself as Mr Joseph Edem, claimed he lost two daughters because of the airline’s failure to pay his outstanding 36 months’ salary.

    Edem said: ”My wife abandoned me since the crisis started. Ultimately, I lost two daughters, one was 13 years old, the other aged four. They died because I did not have money to take care of them.”

    Another worker, who identified himself as Desmond Omoregie, who broke down, while narrating his ordeal, said he lost his ailing mother, because he did not have enough money to cater for her.