By Anscella Obike
The Federal Government has announced steps to recover assets belonging to Dana Air to refund passengers and travel agents affected by the airline’s suspension. This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding the suspension of Dana Air’s operations, Keyamo said the decision was based on serious safety concerns raised by regulatory authorities. He stated that prioritising safety over commercial interests was necessary to prevent potential aviation disasters.
“It was a choice between safety and disaster,” the minister said. “We all looked at the damning reports on the table about safety records, about lack of standards that put the lives of Nigerians at risk. If they continued flying, many of us might have been victims. God forbid.”
Keyamo directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to develop a clear process for refunding passengers, adding that the government would pursue Dana Air’s assets to settle outstanding liabilities. “There are assets still available. Let them sell their assets; let’s cannibalise their revenue and pay people. NCAA should go after their assets because they cannot get away with it,” he said.
He stressed that any attempt by the airline or its owners to re-enter the sector under a new licence or business identity would require full settlement of debts owed to passengers and agents.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has approved extended operating hours until 10:00 p.m. for four airports: Owerri, Enugu, Yola and Ilorin. The move follows requests by aviation stakeholders to allow more airports, outside Lagos and Abuja, to operate evening flights to improve regional connectivity.
Director-General of NAMA, Ahmed Farouk, announced the approval during the meeting, adding that ad-hoc extension rights have also been granted for Air Peace flights to Anambra and Asaba airports. He noted that although NAMA is expanding its capability, it is not yet feasible to extend operating hours for all airports nationwide.
“We are always available to grant an extension based on our capacity,” Farouk said. “For now, we will not be able to operate all the airports till 10 p.m., but based on the directive, we have begun with the four airports mentioned.”
Farouk also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has approved special funding for the procurement of critical NAMA equipment, shifting such financing from budget allocations to dedicated funding lines. He highlighted recent achievements, including the provision of a fully functional flight calibration unit used to validate instrument landing systems and other navigational aids.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments to strengthen airspace safety, improve airport operations and enforce accountability within the aviation sector.