The Nigerian Federal Government on Thursday acquired the country’s largest indigenous airline, Arik Air, announcing the appointment of a new management.
The takeover is a bid to save the country’s troubled aviation industry from total collapse, according to official sources.
Arik Air flies all over the country and operates flights to major West African countries, London, New York and East Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, said the government’s decision to take over the management of Arik Airlines would stabilize its operations, enhance its long-term economic value, revitalize its ailing operations, and sustain safety standards, in view of its pivotal role in the Nigerian aviation sector.
The Minister pledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Aviation for the new management to make Arik remain a strategic carrier, saying the intervention was in the best interest of the general public, workers, creditors and other aviation interest groups.
Meanwhile, the new management of the airline has assured both the staff and other interest groups that it would work to add value to its operations, improve customer experience, and sustain the safety, reliable and secure operational history it was known for.
