Aviators Reject N1m Fine On British Airline

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Aviation stakeholders have rejected the one million fine imposed on a United Kingdom airplane impounded last week, saying the fine was too meagre.

The Flairjet airplane undertook illegal commercial operations in Nigeria though it was only permitted to carry out humanitarian services after the airspace was shut to commercial services.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, speaking via his Twitter handle, noted that the maximum penalty for each of the infractions was N500,000, totaling N1 million (£2,100 at N475.8 exchange rate).

“We caused them to pay and reported their callous misdemeanor to United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), MFA and the UK High Commission”, the Minister added.

Group Capt. John Ojikutu, rtd, an aviation stakeholder, noted that the fine was fixed when one pound was exchanged for N40.

Those who commented on Sirika’s timeline, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Anjuri Ngelale, said they wished the fine was more.

“I only wish it was N50m per violation,” Ngelale wrote. Another Twitter user, Dayo Kehinde, says: “Penalties for violation of laws in critical areas such as this are overdue for review.

“Relevant government agencies need to take action for updates.”

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