Shareholders of Arik Air claim that mismanagement resulted in the loss of important routes and aircraft, and they blame the Nigerian agency AMCON for the suspension of US flights.

The suspension of Arik Air’s New York (JFK) and London (LHR) operations was attributed by shareholders to Nigeria’s loss of US Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) Category 1 certification, which they believe was caused by AMCON’s purported mismanagement of the airline.

Arik Air’s shareholders have accused the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) of poor management, which resulted in the cancellation of the airline’s US operations.

The document, which SaharaReporters was able to get and which is signed by the shareholders of Arik Air, describes how AMCON’s forced takeover of the airline led to the hiring of inept managers.

International flights were apparently suspended as a result of the poor management, and important landing slots at JFK and LHR were lost.

On the other hand, the shareholders assert that AMCON’s negligence resulted in the cannibalisation and destruction of over 17 brand-new aeroplanes.

They explained in detail how AMCON’s action led to the suspension of the flights between Lagos and New York (JFK), which were previously run by Hi Fly of Portugal in accordance with Part 129 regulations.

Arik Air successfully resumed operations on the route with its own Nigerian-registered aircraft and personnel once Nigeria regained its Category 1 status and received its own Part 129 certification. The airline operated the route for more than six years prior to AMCON’s takeover.

The statement says, “The news of Nigeria’s recent delisting from the USFAA Category 1 Certification, which allowed certified Nigerian air operators access to the US travel market, has brought the attention of Arik Air’s shareholders.”

“It should be noted that between 2009 and 2010, Arik Air, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Ministry of Aviation, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) collaborated to undertake the rigorous and laborious audit and certification programs that led to the Cat 1 certification for Nigeria and Nigerian air operators.”

The stakeholders claim that Arik Air directly invested more than $12 million to hire a renowned consultancy, SH&E from the USA, to create protocols, oversee, and help with the Cat 1 certification process’s implementation.

Between 2009 and 2010, SH&E USA worked with Arik Air and the Nigerian civil aviation authorities to teach a number of experts in order for them to obtain the USFAA Cat 1 certification for Nigeria and its airline operators.

In addition to their individual NCAA certifications, a number of Arik Air flight, safety, and operations personnel, as well as NCAA and FAAN, received training and certification from USFAA during this process. Additionally, the complete airline operating support system at Nigeria’s principal airports (Lagos/Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt) was improved as suggested by the consultants and authorised by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the statement stated.

The statement read, “It is important to recognise the unwavering efforts made at the time to ensure the delivery and success of the Cat 1 audit and certification process by Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, the former Minister of Aviation, Dr. Harold Demuren, the former Director General of NCAA, Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, the former Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority Nigeria, and the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

“Attesting to Arik Air’s dedication to the growth of aviation in Nigeria, Dr. Harold Demuren, the then-DG NCAA, told reporters during a press conference on August 15, 2010, in Zaria that Arik Air successfully demonstrated its ability to comply with FAA and BCAA requirements by flying its recently acquired A340-500 aircraft for 50 hours without passengers to Lagos/London-Heathrow and Lagos/JFK, along with inspectors and officials from the FAA, NCAA, British Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), and SH&E (USA).”

Dr. Demuren stated that Nigerians will receive Cat 1 accreditation, stating that “Arik Air’s demonstration of the core competence to operate long haul flights seamlessly is one of the final requirements for the regulatory agency, NCAA to attain Cat 1 certification.”

The statement goes on, “It is unpleasant and regrettable that news of Nigeria being delisted from the USFAA Cat 1 certification listing due to, among other things, a Nigerian operator’s inactivity on the American route are currently making headlines in the media.

“This inactivity of a Nigerian operator is as a result of the forceful take-over and discontinuation of the long-haul flights of the Arik Air operations by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria on 9 February 2017.”

The players clarified that AMCON started to stop the Lagos /New York -JFK / Lagos Flights, which were originally run by Hi Fly of Portugal on behalf of Arik in order to comply with the Part 129 regulations that were in place at the time for operators from Nigeria.

It was mentioned that before AMCON forcibly took over the airline, Arik Air successfully ran the Lagos/New York/Lagos routes using its staff and aircraft registered in Nigeria for more than six years.

According to the statement, “Arik Air Limited has made a significant investment in aviation development and is pursuing a first-tier Nigerian own airline service and a positive image for Nigeria; this investment cannot be overemphasised.”

“The late Captain Victor Egonu, Mr. Mike McTighe, Mr. Mark Holland, Mr. Miguel Sierra, Captain Toks Adekunbi, Captain Ado Sanusi, Mr. Suraj Sundaram, Mr. Lanre Bamgbose, Mr. Shukru Khan, Mr. Zaidan Khlifat, and Mr. Mike McTighe, former managing director, must all be acknowledged for their efforts.”

“In addition, the core staff of FAAN, NAMA, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, led by Dr. Harold Demuren, are performing this taxing national service. They all collaborated with SH&E(USA) to create and execute certification and training guides that strictly adhered to international best practices.

The technical assistance provided by General Electric, Arik International (UK), Boeing Corporation, and High Fly of Portugal was exceptional and unparalleled.

“Moreover, the United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos actively cooperated to facilitate all administrative and consular support for Nigeria’s attainment of Cat 1 and Part 129 for Arik Air.”

The shareholders stated that Arik Air’s management did not stop operating flights to New York prior to AMCON’s takeover on February 9, 2017. They also stated that the reason for the disruption of flights on December 29, 2016, was a catering truck incident that resulted in damage to the airline’s A330-200 aircraft at JF Kennedy Airport. USA.

The company stated that all Arik long-haul flights were cancelled, as documented by AMCON’s designated Receiver Manager.

The statement read, “This lack of critical thinking has resulted in monumental losses for both the Nigerian state and airline, Arik Air, as they lost their Cat 1 status, which ultimately robbed other promising airlines.”

“Before making an investment in the aviation industry, the shareholders of Arik Air were aware of the demands and degree of dedication needed. They also recognised the tremendous goodwill and capital with international networking needed to support their nation, which is why they pursued high-quality operating assets and human capital relentlessly.

“This investment and goodwill had been hemorrhaged by the AMCON appointed Receiver Managers.”

In the meantime, AMCON allegedly mishandled the airline by appointing inept individuals to oversee the closure of New York and London after forcibly seizing control of it.

They continued by saying that AMCON and its Receiver Managers must be held accountable by the government due to the unforgivable disgrace they have caused the nation.

“Therefore, via egregious mismanagement and false information, Arik Air operations had been cut by more than 95% by AMCON receiver managers, to the detriment of travellers and the Nigerian economy.

“It is not surprising that the perpetrators have continued to mount campaign of calumny against the legacy management of Arik Air through misinformation in order to cover their heinous act of economic sabotage and destruction of value,” they added.