The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo Tuesday disclosed the federal government may go after the assets of Dana Air to refund trapped funds of passengers and airline travel agents.
Meanwhile, Keyamo on Monday received in audience the Secretary General of the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, Mr. Alli Tounsi, just as Nigeria is billed to host the prestigious ACI Africa’s Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition next September, 2026.
The threat to go after the assets of Dana Air trails the ministers position he would direct the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to probe why funds trapped by the airline are yet to be refunded.
Keyamo, speaking on why the Authority suspended the operations of the airline, he revealed the suspension was a choice between safety and disaster.
The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the ministry’s fourth quarter stakeholders’ engagement to enhance governance for effective service delivery in aviation themed: “leveraging public feedback to drive excellence in aviation services”.
On actions to be taken to recover the trapped funds, Keyamo noted: “For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster. So, we didn’t take the commercial thing as priority. The priority was safety and we all looked at the damning reports that we met on the table.
“It was a decision of the NCAA to suspend them but I pushed them to say, look, this is the reports we are seeing on the table about safety record, about lack of standards that puts the lives of Nigerians at risk.
“If they continue flying, I don’t know whether most of us will be here. Many of us would have been victims of one of those flights. God forbid.”
According to him, “I have asked Najomo to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded. He has to dig deep on that.
“One solution will also be that if that same individual or those entities are trying to come back to aviation under any guise, whether to go and register a new AOC or use any business within aviation sector, they have to go and settle their debts first.
“We should look at their assets. There are assets that are still available. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalise their revenue and pay people. Let’s find a way to go after their assets and get money to pay Nigerians who are owed.
“NCAA should do that because they can’t get away with it.”
Speaking further, Keyamo hinted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved special funds for the provision of NAMA equipment.
This he said means that the provision of NAMA equipment is being moved from budgetary provisions into special funds
Highlighting some of their progress, the Director General, Nigeria Air Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, said they have provided a fully functional flight calibration unit, which is used to calibrate navigational aids and validate instrument approach procedure
Represented by the Director Air Traffic Service, Mr. John Tayo, he added they have also signed an agreement with Sierra Leone and Liberia to provide them with calibration and instrument approach procedure validation in accordance with ICAO standards.
Farouk said the agency has granted approval to four new airports to operate till 10pm, which Owerri, Enugu, Yola and Ilorin airport are included.
The approval he explained came after calls by stakeholders to increase time for flight operations into other airports other than Abuja and Lagos airport.
He further stated that ad-hoc operation has also being given to Air Peace operation to Anambra, and Asaba.
“We are always available to grant extension because of our capacity. For now, we will not be able to operate all the airports in the country till 10pm But following your directive, sir, we started till 10pm with those airports I mentioned.”
Meanwhile, the visit by the Secretary General of the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, Mr. Alli Tounsi’s delegation was primarily aimed at assessing the nation’s level of preparedness for the continental event.
In his remarks, Mr. Alli Tounsi emphasised the strategic importance of Nigeria’s role in African aviation and the strong case for the country to host next year’s regional conference.
According to him, “Nigeria must host this next Acrobatics Regional Conference. BAGASSO is already in Nigeria, and it is only right that ACI Africa is here too.”
Responding, the Minister warmly welcomed the ACI Africa Secretary General and expressed Nigeria’s full readiness to host the event.
Keyamo, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, stated: ““We accept wholeheartedly to host. Nigeria has the capacity, the infrastructure, and the commitment to deliver a world-class conference. You can count on us.”
Speaking on the nation’s preparations, the Managing Director/CEO of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, outlined several initiatives already underway to ensure a successful hosting.
Kuku revealed that although the event is tentatively scheduled for September 2026 in Abuja – with the exact date to be announced – Nigeria is taking proactive steps to meet and surpass expectations.
She noted that FAAN has already initiated discussions with a leading five-star hotel currently undergoing extensive renovations.
She said, “All hands are on deck. We are confident that we have ample time for comprehensive planning. The hotel management has assured us that their upgrades will be completed by April next year, and the facility’s standards will match the calibre of this global aviation event.”
“The visit marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and further solidifies the nation’s leadership position within Africa’s aviation community,” she said.
The ACI Africa’s top-shot visited alongside Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s executives including the Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire and Director, Commercials and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade, as part of preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the ACI Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition.
Kasim Sumaina
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