Captain Abdullahi Mahmood appointed new Arik Boss
By Andrew Onyejuruuwa
As part of its strategy to continue to restructure the aviation investments in its portfolio, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as part of plans to further restructure Aero, has reappointed Captain Ado Sanusi as Managing Director of Aero Contractors, which is one of the oldest airlines in the country.
In a similar development, NewsBits also gathered that AMCON has appointed the current Managing Director of the airline, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood to return to Arik Air where he was previously.
We gathered on Friday that the duo may have been verbally informed of their new positions but are awaiting official letters to the effect to assume duties probably after the public holiday. All efforts we made to clarify the news from Mr Jude Nwauzor, Head, Corporate Communications Department at AMCON proved abortive as he did not pick several calls to his mobile phone, and would not return the calls, which is unusual.
Capt. Ado Sanusi heading back as Aero Contractors Boss
But sources close to AMCON explained that Sanusi was penned down to head a new airline, NG Eagle, being planned by AMCON and which was in the process to secure its Air Operating Certificate (AOC), but the Corporation has been unable to secure an Air Operators’ Certificate for it to take off, hence the need to return him to his former position.
According to the information, “Both captains Sanusi and Mahmood have been informed of their new positions, it is now clear that the proposed airline by AMCON may not fly because it could not secure an AOC.
“And you know that Captain Sanusi was to oversee the management of NG Eagle airline, that has been the plan and that was the reason captain Mahmood was seconded from Arik Air to Aero. I can tell you that they will both assume duties at their positions by Tuesday, but AMCON is yet to give them letters to that effect and that is why you cannot quote me officially”, the source said.
Captain Ado Sanusi had in January 2021, resigned his position from the airline he has helped nurture back to health after its fortunes dwindled for years when he was appointed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria led by Mr Ahmed Lawan Kuru as Managing Director/CEO.
Captain Abdullahi Zubair Mahmood was immediately seconded to Aero as the Managing Director to sustain and improve the robust and premium quality service, which Aero is known for in the country. With this development, it is not clear what would happen to the branded NG Eagle aircraft AMCON had procured and parked at the Ikeja airport since February 2021.
