N12.5bn debt: Arik says it paid FAAN over N18bn since 2006

Twenty-four hours after aviation unions’ workers disrupted its flight at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, over alleged N12.5 billion debt, Arik Air said yesterday that it had paid into the coffers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over N18.9 billion as airport charges since 2006 till date.

Chris Ndulue, Arik’s managing director, described the disruption of its operations by FAAN workers and union members as violation of legal attempts to reconcile figures between the authority and the airline.

Ndulue said out of the N18.9 billion paid by the airline into FAAN account, the authority acknowledged N14.4 billion, saying it was startling that FAAN could not account for the outstanding N7.5 billion that mysteriously disappeared from its account.

Though he did not disclose the sums lost to the disrupted flights on Wednesday, Ndulue said the airline was deliberating other measures to seek redress over the matter, even as its management met minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, to formally protest the illegal action.

He revealed the airline over time had made efforts to work out an amicable resolution of the disputed figures through legal representations in response to a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos by FAAN.

FAAN, he said, has not been forthcoming with details on how to resolve the impasse despite ministerial interventions through committees set up to reconcile the figures.

He said the resort to self help by FAAN workers and aviation union members to attempt to recover alleged debts through intimation would not force Arik Air to pay for services that had not been formally documented.

He said Arik Air would continue to explore existing legal instrument and channels to fight for its legitimate claims.