Aero Suspends Flights Operations Indefinitely

 Aero  Suspends Flights Operations Indefinitely 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Harsh business environment, continuous increase in aviation fuel price also known as Jet A1 Fuel, high Foreign Exchange rates, among other multiple problems faced in the Aviation industry by local carriers on their daily operations, has prompted Aero Contractors, one of the local carriers to announced suspension of its scheduled Passengers Service Operations Indefinitely. 

The airline disclosed this in a statement on Monday saying it would temporarily suspend its scheduled passenger services operations with effect from July 20, 2022 

According to the management: “The decision was carefully considered and taken due to the fact that most of our aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance, resulting in their inability to offer a seamless and efficient service to our esteemed customers.

“We are working to bring these aircraft back to service in the next few weeks, so we can continue to offer our passengers the safe, efficient, and reliable services that Aero Contractors is known for, which is the hallmark of Aero Contractors Company of Nig. Ltd.”

The airline maintained that the past few months had been very challenging for the aviation industry and the airline operators in particular, adding that with the high cost of maintenance, skyrocketing fuel prices, inflation, and forex scarcity resulting in high foreign exchange rates. These are among the major components of airline operations.

However, it was gathered that this development does not in any way affect the Maintenance activities of the Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) otherwise known as AeroMRO, the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) also known as Aero Training School, the Helicopter and Charter Services operations.

Aniebonam Calls for Peaceful Campaign towards 2023 General Elections

 Aniebonam Calls for Peaceful Campaign towards 2023 General Elections

ZAINAB JUNAID

The founder of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Aniebonam has called on his members to adopt constructive and peaceful method of  campaign for the forthcoming 2023 general elections. 

Dr Aniebonam made this call while fielding questions with Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) at NAGAFF Village on Monday, adding that the society at large must be engaged in the course of the movement. 

Reiterating the bad shape of the economy,  the NAGAFF founder maintained that all hands must be on deck to actualize the dream of New Nigeria. 

His words, “We must engage the society and be constructive in our dealings. There is no need to start blaming anyone for the system that is already in comatose. All we need now is to put all hands on deck to actualize the dream of New Nigeria. This election give room for multiparty system which provides opportunities for people to make choice of their own. We must utilize the opportunity. Besides, it was a call from God for me to initiate this party. As a spiritual leader, it was a divine speech that I received and I believe we will achieve our goals.”

While speaking on the recent developments in the maritime industry, Dr. Aniebonam who is also the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) argued that Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is not a government agency as it is misinterpreted and all measures are put in place to ensure that the council remains independent of the Ministry of Transportation. 

He explained that the council was never meant to be a government Parastatal but a professional body regulating activities of the freight forwarders. 

According to him, “CRFFN has not achieved the mandate in which it was established for since it has been misinterpreted to be a government agency. But our lawyer is in court on that matter. We all know that when money is involved, the issue of POF is a serious business, section 6 of the CRFFN Act tells us how to raise funds and administer the council, the POF falls under this purview.”

"When you look at the volume of money involved, the attention of the government has been brought there. It is only the National Assembly that can intervene on this matter. Recall that  I said we are still in court over this issue and we will get what we want,” he said. 

Dr Aniebonam later enjoined the New Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Jaji Sambo to utilize his new appointment and the little period remaining under the present administration to help resolve the salient issue of CRFFN.