*Naira Marley stepping down from the private Jet
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has ordered the immediate suspension of private airline, Executive Jet Services, from operating in the country. The suspension, which takes immediate effect is coming as severe punishment for the airlines ‘irresponsible’ behaviour at the weekend when it conveyed musician Naira Marley from Lagos to Abuja for an open-air concert at Jabi Lake Mall.
According to the Minister, the return flight that conveyed the musician to and from Abuja was originally approved by the Ministry of Aviation to convey Justice Adefope Okojie, an approval that was fraudulently used by the airline charter company. He said the conduct of the Executive Jet Services was a gross violation of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
As one of the protocols of the government to curtail the spread of the disease, domestic airlines have been suspended since March. Only aircraft on essential duty and with due authorisation were allowed to fly, which Executive Jet Services management flagrantly disobeyed. Sirika announced the suspension order of the local airline during the usual briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.
Sirika reiterated that as much as government would encourage the operation and growth of all operators in the aviation industry, it would not condone actions that undermine government policies and constitute risks to public interests.
In a related development too, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19 also sealed the premises of the Jabi Lake Mall where the concert took place. It was sealed on the ground that they violated the Presidential ban on social gatherings in the country. The FCTA noted that the management of the mall granted permit to and hosted a concert by Naira Marley on June 12, 2020, despite several warnings by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
