By Uche Mbah
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is not rebranding any of the airlines that it took over due to debt overhang. It has, rather, approached the aviation authorities in the country requesting a license to transfer all the assets to an independent entity for more efficient management, AMCON management has said.
AMCON had taken over five airlines in line with its terms of establishment. These airlines were having insolvency issues.
Arik happens to be one of these airlines taken over by the recovery firm.
There were reports that AMCON was rebranding Arik air, and that other airlines will be rebranded as they are. A rebranded Arik aircraft was sighted in Addis Ababa MRO while undergoing a livery change and this has sparked off speculations that the Airline was being rebranded.
But in a statement issued recently by the Head, Corporate Communications Department, AMCON, Mr. Jude Nwauzor, AMCON claims this is far from the truth. It says it is rather trying to create a single entity with the airlines.
“Following its mandate especially as it relates to the aviation sector of the Nigerian economy, it is public knowledge that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had approached the aviation authorities in the country seeking a license for an independent entity where all of its aviation assets would be transferred and efficiently managed in a synergetic manner”, AMCON said.
“AMCON currently has more than five airlines in its aviation portfolio among other assets that are scattered all over. The proposed new an entity, therefore, has nothing to do with the rebranding any of the airlines within its portfolio as being speculated in several online publications.
“The objective of AMCON’s intervention in the aviation sector is targeted at supporting the sector, given its importance, save thousands of jobs, make the aviation sector a catalyst for the growth of the Nigerian economy and recover the huge debt owed the Corporation by these aviation entities,” it ended.
Arik Air and it’s staff have been having problems over the alleged rebranding and other issues bothering on welfare. The staff are billed to embark on.a strike action next week.
