Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that the federal government is considering seizing and liquidating Dana Air’s assets to refund passengers and travel agents whose funds remain stuck following the airline’s suspension.
While speaking on Tuesday during the ministry’s fourth-quarter stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, themed “Leveraging Public Feedback to Drive Excellence in Aviation Services,” Keyamo revealed that he has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to investigate the delay in processing refunds.
Keyamo explained that Dana Air’s suspension, which began on April 24, 2024, after a runway incident in Lagos, was based on safety concerns that outweighed commercial considerations.
He cited “damning reports” about the airline’s safety standards and operational procedures, which the administration deemed a significant risk to passengers.
“For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster,” he said. “The priority was safety, and we all looked at the damning reports on the table. If they continued flying, many of us could have been victims. God forbid.”
The minister noted that while the NCAA initiated the suspension, he urged the agency to act decisively in the interest of public safety.
He also stated that any individual or entity linked to Dana Air must clear outstanding debts before attempting to re-enter the aviation sector under any guise.
“We should look at their assets. There are assets still available. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalise their revenue and pay people. NCAA should ensure they don’t get away with it,” he said.
Keyamo further tasked Chris Najomo, acting Director-General of the NCAA, with ensuring all affected passengers and agents are refunded.
He emphasized that the government would exhaust all options, including asset liquidation, to settle these obligations.
