The Federal Government has apparently given in to pressure from the Nigerian National Assembly and revoked Dana Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The decision comes in the same week in which the Director-General of the NCAA was replaced, considering that his ‘unsatisfactory response to the numerous concerns of stakeholders in the aviation sector’.
Update 1: the spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation is not aware of the development. Apparently, the decision was taken after Dana Air reported a minor technical problem with one of its aircraft to the NCAA yesterday.
Update 2: Dana Air released the following statement:
We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday, 16th March, 2013. No specific reason was given for the action. A meeting is, however, scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday 18th March and we will update you as we get more information.
Update 3: According to Joel Obi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation, Dana Air flights were suspended after one of its planes had a safety issue with its batteries. So, although flights are suspended, Dana Air did not lose its license. Still, the question is why the Ministry interfered in a matter that should have been dealt with by the NCAA alone.
