How aviation ministry official contributed to FG, Virgin Nigeria impasse

Shola Adekola, Lagos - 11.02.2008

Fresh facts have emerged on how a top official of Ministry of Aviation contributed to the power tussle going on between the Federal Government and Virgin Nigeria over the government’s directives for the relocation of the flag carrier’s local operations from the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the new terminal at the local airport.

A source within the Presidency said the ministry official was said to have misled the government while signing the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding (MMU) with the technical partner of Virgin Nigeria,Virgin Atlantic, in 2004.

The MMU, which the airline is presently holding on to for not wanting to relocate its domestic flights from the international to the local airport, according to the source, was signed by a senior official from the ministry on a letterhead belonging to Virgin Atlantic which is the technical partner of Virgin Nigeria instead of the ministry’s letterhead.

The error, which was said to have been discovered following the face-off between the government and the airline, is said to be causing ripples in the ministry and the presidency based on the embarrassment it has caused.

The presidency is said to be unhappy with the officer for not properly interpreting the MMU signed between the government and the airline.