‘Don’t let Arik die’ — pilots, engineers beg AMCON to prevent collapse of airline

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has appealed to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to continue its intervention in Arik Air and save the airline from collapse.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mudi Muhammad, chairman of NAAPE, said AMCON’s intervention in Arik seven years ago was to protect the airline and save hundreds of jobs.

He said the airline has stood the test of time since then but still has several challenges that need to be addressed.

Muhammad called on AMCON to support Arik to get more aircraft into its fleet, saying this would help the airline to dominate the aviation industry once again.

He also urged AMCON to invest more in the airline’s operations, saying this would help to create jobs and boost the economy.

“As NAAPE, we know AMCON’s intervention in Arik about seven years ago was to protect the airline and save hundreds of us from losing our jobs.

“We can tell you categorically that in the last seven years of AMCON’s take over of Arik, the airline has stood the test of time.

“So, we totally understand that Arik survived because of AMCON unlike what some people wanted us to believe at the time. Before AMCON stepped into Arik, pensions, allowances, and staff salaries, were not forthcoming and the airline was on the verge of total collapse because of its huge debt burden. 

“Indeed, AMCON has tried but Arik still has several challenges, which we want the management of AMCON led by Ahmed Lawan Kuru OFR to address through Kamilu Omokide, the receiver/manager who is also doing his best based on the support he gets from AMCON.

“We are here to plead that AMCON should support Arik to get more aircraft into its fleet, and as professionals who are passionate about our job, we want you to watch Arik dominate the aviation industry once again.

“We are making this appeal because apart from providing and sustaining jobs in the country, Arik is a great training ground for the aviation sector, which is critical to the growth of the Nigerian economy.”

Muhammad highlighted the airline’s professionalism and zero accident record for over 16 years of its operational existence.

The NAATE chairman urged AMCON to “not let Arik die” because of the number of jobs that would be lost and the negative ripple effect it would have on the economy.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

In February 2017, Arik Air was taken over by the federal government via AMCON due to the company’s huge debt profile, which was over N300 billion.

Due to this, the government immediately dissolved the airline’s management team and appointed a receiver manager.

In June 2023, media reports had said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Omokide Kamilu, receiver-manager for Arik Air, over alleged misappropriation and diversion of about N120 billion.

But the airline later debunked the allegation against Kamilu, describing it as “patently false”.