Nigerian entrepreneur and Chairman of Air Nigeria, Jimoh Ibrahim announced today that beginning Monday September 10, 2012, local, regional and international operations will be suspended at Air Nigeria as the airline will be shut down for a year following operation tensions arising from “staff disloyalty and environmental tension”, which is not “conducive for business in the aviation sector.”
Chairman of Air Nigeria, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim lamented that it was difficult to continue investing in the airline with the high level of staff disloyalty and weak business environment. The airline therefore urged customers to contact agents from whom they had purchased tickets for a refund and appeal for any inconveniences caused by the decision.
He said that suspending airline operations is not an unusual thing as “Corporations are like individuals, who naturally will get sick. The usual thing to do is to admit them in hospitals, either for corporate surgery or for treatment, as the case may be.”
“During such periods, it is not likely that they will work in full capacity, depending on the nature of the illness,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim said that 50 loyal workers from various departments of the airline had been selected with a mandate to recommence business within 12 months. Other workers are relieved of their employment effective from the last day of work on their various routes.
“But we are strongly committed to ensuring that Air Nigeria survives,” he added.
Ibrahim thanked stakeholders for their support in the last two years of Air Nigeria’s operation under the new management.
Air Nigeria (formerly Virgin Nigeria), was established in 2004 when the Federal Government and Virgin Atlantic Airways signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding that gave birth to the airline. Air Nigeria, then trading as Virgin Nigeria Airways, started operating on June 28, 2005 with flights to London.
The airline had continued to run regional and international flights after the industry regulator, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended its domestic operations on bankruptcy allegations a few months ago.
Jimoh Ibrahim is a serial entrepreneur, lawyer and businessman with interests spanning across various sectors including following sectors, among others oil & gas, hotels, airlines, banking, real estate, insurance and investments.
The development, however, continues a seeming business trend as evident in the management of some of his businesses – the once prestigious Nicon Luxury hotel, Abuja stands out as an example.
