Posted by By Simon Ateba on
Despite the Federal Government's order that Virgin Nigeria relocates its domestic operations next Monday, from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, to the new domestic terminal, known as MMA2, the airline has vowed to remain where it is until the matter is determined in court.
Despite the Federal Government's order that Virgin Nigeria relocates its domestic operations next Monday, from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, to the new domestic terminal, known as MMA2, the airline has vowed to remain where it is until the matter is determined in court.
The Federal Government, on Monday, gave Virgin Nigeria a final one week ultimatum to vacate the international wing of the Lagos airport and move to the newly built domestic terminal being managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.
A press statement signed by the Assistant Director (Press and Public Relations), Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Lawrence Ojabo, read , 'Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, conveyed the directive of government to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, in a letter dated Monday 4 August, 2008.
'The Federal Government of Nigeria has given the Management and Operators of Virgin Nigeria Airways Ltd. a final notice to relocate from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, to the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Terminal (2), MM2, within one week from Monday 4 August, 2008.'
But Samuel Ogbogoro, the airline's spokesperson, yesterday, on telephone, told P.M.News that until the matter is decided in court, the order cannot be obeyed. He said: 'you know we are still in court and until the court decides, we cannot move.'
Also on Monday night, the management of Virgin Nigeria issued a statement saying, 'Virgin Nigeria wishes to confirm that we have received a letter signed by the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, advising that Virgin Nigeria Airways relocates all our domestic operations from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport to the MMA2 within the next 7 days. You may recall that this matter is currently before the court of law and therefore subjudiced.'
This is the second time the Federal Government is asking the airline operator to vacate the international wing of the MMA. The order to move to the domestic airport was issued to Virgin Nigeria earlier in the year, but was ignored by the operator who gave reasons of inadequate space and poor state of the domestic wing for their action.
The management of the Airline went ahead to secure a court injunction to back their position but which has now been vacated. However, government, in issuing the latest order, gave the airline a final notice to move from the international airport within one week.
Some of the reasons adduced by government for its decision to evict Virgin Nigeria Airways are based on security considerations as well as the fact that the airport has been grappling with effective handling of international passenger traffic. 'Security implications as well as the fact that the airport is grappling with adequately handling international passenger traffic, had among other things informed government's position,' it said.