Arrest of pilots: FG knocks Gov. Wike, says Caverton helicopter pilots were duly authorized to fly

… threatens to punish Police Commissioner, Air Force Base commander

The Federal Government has reacted to the arrest of the two Caverton helicopter pilots over alleged lockdown violation in Rivers State, saying they were duly authorized to do so in national interest.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said on Wednesday that the federal government gave the approval for them to fly “in national interest and improved national revenue of the country of which Rivers State is the greatest beneficiary.

He described as dangerous exhibition of ignorance and lack of competence the role of the State  Police Commissioner, Mr Mustapha Dandaura,  and the Commander of the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt in the arrest of the pilots.

“They will have to answer for their actions,’’ he said, promising that all necessary and constitutional actions on the matter would be taken.

Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesome Wike, had in an Executive Order signed on March 19 suspended flights to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Air Force Base and Bonny Airstrip beginning Thursday, March 26.

Sirika said: On whether we gave the arrested pilots approval to fly, civil aviation is on exclusive list item number three there. So no other person but the federal government has authority to legislated upon.

“So also is the Nigerian Air force, Armed Forces are also on exclusive list of the federal government, there is no other person that has the legal right to legislate on.

“So the Air Force officer who jumped the Commander-in-Chief and ignored, also jumped the Chief of Defence Staff and ignored, who jumped the Chief of Air Staff and ignored, to call a governor to come into the property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to make an arrest, exhibited dangerous ignorance and incompetence grossly.

“So the police that followed the governor to go in there exhibited dangerous ignorance from our perspective in civil aviation.

“Whether we gave approval for the flight, yes we did and we did in national interest. All of these flights are for the purposes of improving the national revenue to which Rivers State is the greatest beneficiary.’’

“So those flights by Caverton, Aero Contractor, Arik, Bristo and … were for national interest and improved national revenue.  At a time where oil has gone below $30 per barrel and the cost of production is $30. In the wisdom of President Muhammadu Buhari he thought that this be allowed so that the nation will not be crippled and national revenue will not be lost’’.

The minister said  the ministry had powers in civil aviation and  guided by the Civil Aviation Act 2016 to approve such flights.

“Those flights were approved lawfully, legally and correct. So Yes, we will do everything lawful and legal and reasonable to get those pilots back and operations will continue in national interest.”