Minister Wades into AMCON, Aero Crisis, Pledges to Revive Ailing Airlines

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Minister of Aviation for State, Mr. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday said government is taking drastic measures aimed at resolving the lingering crisis that resulted from the take-over of Aero Airlines by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

Sirika admitted that AMCON is facing challenges in reviving the airline for profitability because, as he said, they are not trained aviators, and therefore do not have the competence to hire the labour and expertise required to turn around Aero as an airline operating concern.

The minister spoke when he granted members of the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), led by Mr. Benjamin Okewu, in Abuja, said government has initiated action towards salvaging the airline and how AMCON will hand over the firm for operations.

Though Arik is also being confronted with indebtnedness to agencies in the ministry, the minister said, Aero and Arik will not go down, adding, operating an airline is about viability and sustainance.

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