BY:
OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL:
The Nigeria Government has suspended Executive Jets
Services for flying popular musician Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira
Marley contrary to the approval it was granted.
Naira Marley was flown from Lagos to
Abuja by the airline despite COVID-19 restrictions after approval of aviation
authorities.
The flight was said meant to fly in Hon.
Justice Adefope Okojie from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos and not the
musician.
It was learned that Naira Marley perform
and entertained fun-seekers at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja over the weekend.
Speaking on Monday at the daily briefing
by members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Minister of
Aviation, Hadi Sirika announced the suspension of the operation of Executive Jets
Service indefinitely for the infraction.
The minister also said the captain who
operated the flight would be sanctioned for misleading the control tower.
Sirika said: “Well, we approved a flight
but certainly not for any musician. The flight, from the application, was to
convey Honourable Justice Adefope Okojie from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos
for an official assignment.
“In this challenging time, in our
wisdom, we considered the judiciary to be part of the essential service to be
delivered. Having to move the Hon. Justice from Lagos to Abuja was in order.
The approval was given for the 14th of June, 2020, however, we do give them a
leeway of 24 hours sometimes due to operational reasons.
“They can operate the flight slightly
earlier or slightly forward within 24 hours. In this case, the operator choose
to fly on the 13th at about 6:00 pm. So, that itself is not a violation to
operate earlier because we gave him the leeway.”
He added: “The operator is Executive
Jets Services and the approval was very clear and I will read part of it. This
is the letter from the ministry of Aviation to the Chairman of the Executive
Jets Services and it was signed by the Director of Air Transport Management on
my behalf.”
On the suspension of the jet services,
Sirika said: “The operation is a clear violation of our approval to which we
take very seriously and it seems this is becoming a norm. Perhaps, this is the
second time. So, Executive Air Services operations are hereby suspended
indefinitely. We will also fine them maximally according to the law.
“The captain of the flight will also be
sanctioned for giving wrong information to the control tower and also
appropriately in accordance with our law.
“It seems also that people are not tired
of trying our resolve. Well, we are also not tired of rising up to the
challenge and living up to our own responsibility for keeping every one of us
safe.
“Governance is a serious matter. We
don’t take things lightly in civil aviation because it means the lives of
people. We are highly regulated, we are international and we are one aviation.
“Going forward, we will put up
mechanisms in place or escalate the mechanisms we have in place to detract
people from doing so and it means that we will be stricter in our approvals and
whoever dares us will meet the consequences.”
