Safety took precedence over commercial concerns in suspension of operations…
The Federal Government may recover and sell the assets of Dana Air to refund passengers and travel agents whose funds remain trapped following the airline’s suspension, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has revealed.
Keyamo made the disclosure on Tuesday during the Ministry’s fourth-quarter stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, themed: “Leveraging Public Feedback to Drive Excellence in Aviation Services.”
He explained that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Dana Air’s operations due to safety concerns. “It was a choice between safety and disaster,” he said, emphasizing that safety took precedence over commercial interests.
Keyamo directed that the NCAA probe why refunds have not yet been processed. He suggested that the government could seize and sell Dana Air’s assets to reimburse affected passengers and agents, and warned that the airline or its operators cannot return to aviation without first settling outstanding obligations.