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Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest commercial carrier involved in
domestic and international air transport business, on Tuesday, accused oil
marketers in the country of conspiring against the airline, a situation which
has disrupted the carrier’s flight operations.

The airline stated that the marketers have teamed up against it
because of its recently constructed mini-depot which it uses in storing
aviation fuel, adding that some of its aircraft are out of the country for
routine checks and repairs. “Major oil marketers, under the aegis of Major Oil
Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), have ganged up against Arik Air
starving the airline of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet A1,” said
Adebanji Ola, media officer for the carrier. “The marketers are not happy that
the airline has built a mini-depot for the storage of Jet A1,”

Mr Ola said that the marketers believe that the carrier is
trying to drive them out of business despite the airline’s explanation that the
mini-depot, which stores only 100,000 litres, is a strategic reserve for its
150 daily flights. “The 100,000-litre capacity of the mini-depot is far below
the airline’s average daily requirement of 700,000 litres of Jet A1,” he said.
“The major marketers are now refusing to sell fuel to Arik Air thereby causing
a lot of delays on flights.”

Arik not alone

Mr Ola argued that Arik is not the first or only airline in
Nigeria to have a mini fuel depot, stating that Aero Contractors and Caverton
Helicopters have such facility in Port Harcourt and Lagos respectively.

Efforts to get the reactions of some major oil marketers were not
successful, as calls made to the mobile phones of different distributors were
not answered. “Efforts are on by the airline to resolve the fuel issue with the
major marketers while two of our aircraft are expected back in the country next
week from C-checks,” said Mr Ola. “The airline therefore appeals to its valued
guests to please bear with it.”