The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of FirstNation Airways indefinitely on 11 May 2018, grounding one of the country's longest-running indigenous carriers over what the regulator called flagrant and continuous violations of its licence terms. The suspension was conveyed in a letter referenced NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1-06/18/2304, signed by NCAA Director General Captain Muhtar Usman, and acknowledged by the airline the same day it was delivered.
A Downgrade That Was Ignored
NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye said the root of the suspension dated back to August 2017, when the authority downgraded FirstNation's AOC to charter-only operations after the airline was found to hold just one airworthy aircraft, short of the two required under Part 9.1.1.6(b)(2)(ii) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations for scheduled service. Investigators later found the airline had continued operating scheduled flights in defiance of that restriction, prompting the authority to act.
“The suspension is sequel to the flagrant and continuous violation of the terms and conditions of issuance of its AOC by the airline, thereby carrying out unauthorised and illegal operations,” Adurogboye said, adding that NCAA had already warned the carrier before escalating to a full suspension. The airline was directed to return its AOC to the NCAA's Director of Operations and Training within seven days.
Union Backing, Airline Pushback
The National Union of Air Transport Employees welcomed the suspension, with general secretary Olayinka Abioye arguing it had been "long expected" given the airline was operating as a scheduled carrier on a single aircraft. FirstNation, for its part, maintained the suspension was not safety-related, saying its aircraft and crew held all relevant safety approvals and that it was working on fleet expansion. NCAA said it would review the suspension if the airline demonstrated willingness to comply with the regulations.