Federal Government on Thursday issued a six-week ultimatum to Virgin Nigeria and Arik Airline to relocate their domestic operations from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to the domestic wing to give room for safe operations.
It also ordered all the owners of abandoned aircraft to remove them from the apron of the airports across the country before the end of January 2008.
Minister of State for Air Transport, Felix Hyatt, issued the ultimatum while briefing journalists on the outcome of a closed-door meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, and other aviation personnel.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global body overseeing aviation safety worldwide, does not permit domestic operations at any international airport.
The two airlines in question were favoured by the immediate past administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to conduct both local and international operations at the MMIA, Lagos.
Experts had frowned at the move citing security reasons and breach of international practice on aviation.
However, Hyatt advised the airlines in Lagos on Thursday to begin a gradual relocation of their equipment beginning from December 15 till January 31, 2008.
He said the new administration is poised to create safe and secure environment for airline operations.
“You are all aware of the need for domestic operations to move from the international wing to the domestic wing of the airport. We have discussed that issue; we also looked at the limitations and we looked at the way forward and we have concluded that it must be pursued.
“We are here to create an environment that is safe for us to do that because you realise that if they move at once, the space available cannot contain their aircraft, they have to move gradually.
“We also agreed to relocate all the abandoned aircraft and FAAN, being an organisation responsible for airport operations, will make provisions for an alternative place for that so that there will be space for other aircraft at the wings,” he said.