By Akinwale Kasali
The Federal Government has recorded a landmark achievement by wielding the big stick. It has impounded an aircraft owned by a British company for illegally operating passenger flights into Nigeria.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Sunday via his Twitter handle, @hadisirika.
He said the company, Flair Aviation, was authorised to conduct humanitarian flights but was caught operating commercial flights.
Sirika explained that in addition to the confiscated aircraft, a fine would be imposed on the company for the contravention of FG’s ban on commercial flights as part of measures to curb the importation of coronavirus.
“COVID-19. Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations, but regrettably, we caught them conducting commercial flights. This is callous! The craft is impounded, the crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve,” the Minister tweeted.
