Air Peace , one of the leading domestic airlines in the country and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) are bickering over N7 million debt allegedly owed the latter by the airline.
Abelnewsng.com learnt that as result of that ,Air Peace operations was allegedly disrupted for over two hours by Enugu Airport Manager, Mgbemena Orjiakor, a situation , the airline stated had caused it to lose millions of naira.
Speaking to journalists this morning, Chairman of Air Peace,Allen Onyema,who described the disruption as sabotage,explained that the airline’s operation was shut down by Orjiakor over alleged N7million debt, which the airline showed proves to have paid.
According to him, “I got a call this morning that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) stopped our operations in Enugu over N7million naira debt, which we have already paid. The airport manager did not go back to check his books to know if we actually paid or not but hurriedly stopped our operations, a situation that is costsing us millions of naira.
He continued, “We do not know if the airport manager is sponsored by someone to bring down AirPeace because even after Lagos sent evidence of the payment, rather than own up to the fact that the agency lacked proper accounting, the agency said the airline is owing an outstanding N1.8million. This is why I said this act is sabotage.”
Onyema lamented that an airline that owes the government over N11 billion was allowed to operate that morning but Air Peace was shut down over N7million it already paid.
In his words, “When I called the Enugu Airport Manager to complain to him about the situation, he answered me rudely by saying I was talking like a riffraff. This man is fit to be in that position. This same airport manager does not know that he is employed today because of the airline. How can he call me riffraff?If we are not adequately compensated for our losses, we promise the government that we will go to court. This is part of the reasons why airlines in Nigeria do not survive.”
He continued, “I had to call the Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma,who was not aware of the situation. He politely told me that he will handle it and he was very sorry about the situation. The director of commercials also got across to me and also told me he was looking into the situation and they will get back to me.The Director of Human Resources also got across to me and pleaded with me. But Mgbemena Orjiakor, the Enugu Station Manager, will have to explain to the world who sent him because I believe this is outright sabotage. That station manager was not remorseful and very insulting.”
He lamented that what the distruption mean is that the airline will not be able to operate night flight into Enugu today because Enugu operates visual flight, wondering why the AM of all days, chose a Friday, which according to him is the busiest day to shut down their operations.
Reacting, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, stated that from record the airline had only pad N2 million  of the N7 million owed the agency .
She ,however apologised for the inconveniences the situation must have caused the airline and its passenger,promising.

Also , the platform learnt that the Airport Manager never insulted the Chairman of Air Peace as alleged but that it was the chairman that was pouring insult on him .