Tag: FCCPC

FCCPC delists 18 more digital money lenders

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has delisted another 18 Digital Money Lenders (DMLs) for operating without regulatory approval.

A statement by Mr. Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

Irukera said the DMLs were operating in violation of the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022.

He said the commission had entered an order to Google to remove the applications from the Playstore.

Irukera said the order was also to prohibit payment gateways or services from providing or continuing services to the affected businesses.

He listed the delisted DMLs to include Getloan, Joy Cash-Loan Up to 1,000,000, Camelloan, Cashlawn, Nairaloan, Eaglecash Moneytreefinance Made Easy and Luckyloan.

Others are Personal Loan, Cashme, Easynaira Swiftcash, Crediting, Swiftkash, Hen Credit loan, Nut loan, Cash door, Cashpal and Nairaeasy gist loan.

He said the commission would continue to engage Google to clarify how and why apps that had not received relevant regulatory approvals were available on its platform (Play store).

”DMLs are reminded that infractions or infringements may lead to permanent delisting and prohibition, as well as law enforcement action, including prosecution,” he said.

Irukera reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring legal and ethical operations in digital money lending.

He called on consumers to patronise only approved DMLs.

August 2, 2023
FCCPC delisting: Sycamore distances itself from ‘Get Loan’

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced that it is delisting two digital money lenders (DMLs) for unethical practices such as duplicity and the use of Android Package Kits (APKs) file formats.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera said in a statement on the Commission’s official Twitter handle on Friday, that it had also set deadline for all DMLs to comply with its regulations.

“The illegal DMLs provide links to consumers to visit unregistered websites using Android devices,” Babatunde Irukera, CEO of FCCPC said in a statement seen by Bendada.com. “In the course of the Commission’s continuing investigations and tracking of these illegally operating DMLs, [we] have discovered duplicity by at least two otherwise legally registered DMLs on the Commission’s approval list.”

Mr. Irukera further explained the duplicity is executed such that approved digital lenders use these alternate channels for prohibited conduct. In the statement, the FCCPC said it has identified Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan & Purple Credit Limited as the erring companies and has since announced that they are permanently delisted as approved digital lenders in the country.

In addition, FCCPC said that it has asked Google Playstore to prohibit any product associated with the aforementioned companies which occupy numbers one and 65 on the recent list of approved companies and digital money lending apps in Nigeria that was released by the commission last month.

However, there seems to be confusion and a lack of adequate communication. According to a spokesperson at Sycamore, “an app impersonated us and they [referring to FCCPC] did not even check to see that it was another company.”

The app which the FCCPC is referring to is called “Get Loan”, on Google Playstore, the initial description claims that it is offered by Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and was released in July 2022.

However, Sycamore’s spokesperson said that the app is not affiliated with them.

In the reviews section of “Get Loan” on Google Playstore, you will find users like Sonia Okon lamenting:

“This app is a total fraud, their agent called to tell me that I have been granted a loan of 100-200k, they convince me to download the app, and when I did, they end up approving a loan of 10k which I was to get only 6200 to repay 11k. Even when I declined the loan the agent said she was going to increase the amount and told me to send a screenshot but when I did, I ended up noticing she approved the loan and it wasn’t increased either, then she blocked me…. scammerssss.”

Unlike “Get Loan”, Sycamore’s current app on Playstore was released in March 2023 and was last updated on July 17, 2023, as of the time of this report.

July 22, 2023
FCCPC delists digital money lenders, Getloan and Camelloan

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has de-listed two Digital Money Lenders (DMLs) for illegal, prohibited and unregulated activities.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera said in a statement on the Commission’s official Twitter handle on Friday, that it had also set deadline for all DMLs to comply with its regulations.

Irukera said the two delisted DMLs engaged in deception to attract borrowers.

”The Commission notes a resurgence in the occurrence of prohibited loan recovery methods and practices in the past weeks.

”The Commission has now permanently delisted Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited, along with their respective apps “Getloan” and “Camelloan”.

”FCCPC has entered an Order to Google Playstore and other payment and financial service providers, permanently prohibiting the provision of any services associated with digital lending to the companies.

”The Commission reiterates that this revocation and action are permanent without option or opportunity of reconsideration, and the same consequence shall apply to all other violators,” he said.

Irukera said the commission would forward all information and evidences with respect to the two companies activities to law enforcement agencies and other regulators for appropriate action.

He therefore warned consumers against dealing with the two de-listed loan companies.

The executive vice chairman said that the commission had with the approval of the Joint Regulatory and Enforcement Task Force, established the Limited Interim Regulatory and Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending.

He said the guidelines has given Nov. 14 deadline for all DMLs in business and on Google Playstore to comply with the guidelines or risk removal from Playstore.

Irukera assured Nigerians that the FCCPC would continue to scrutinise all listed DMLs and periodically update the list on its website, to ensure that only businesses that consistently and completely comply with the regulations were allowed to do business.

He advised consumers to patronise only DMLs on the commission’s approved list.

July 21, 2023
FCCPC set to address unjustified increase in food prices

Following fuel pump price hike, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that it will address the anti-competitive conduct by market associations that negatively impacts food prices.

FCCPC Executive Vice-President, Mr Babatunde Irukera, disclosed this at a “Fair Food Prices in Nigeria, Multi-Stakeholder Workshop” on Wednesday.

He argued that trade associations in many aspects, have constituted themselves into cartels which are illegal.

Continuing, he said that such associations’ focus should be on members’ standards and welfare, noting that they were not to determine prices.

“We have no control over monetary policies, but the role we play is that we will continue to monitor the markets. We will intervene when we find excesses due to exploitative conduct, taking advantage of consumers.

“One of the ways of intervening is unlocking whatever the bottlenecks are. Associations that come together to determine what price commodities should be sold, or those that form cartels to stop Nigerians from being part of any business, will not be allowed.

“We will proceed against them as we proceed against those multinationals in their trade associations; we will proceed against even the small guys in the market, but what is important is these things, no matter how small they are, whatever those supplies are must still be available,” he said.

Recall that the pump price of fuel was increased from N539 to N617 per litre on Tuesday.

The increase in Pump Price has led to the skyrocketing of food and other household items.

July 20, 2023
Aviation sector complaints third highest in 2022 – FCCPC

The Federal Competition, Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC) on Sunday said that complaints on Nigeria’s aviation Industry ranked third in the list of those it received in 2022.

Dr. Adams Abdullahu, Director of Operations, FCCPC, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Abdullahu said that complaints on various incidents in the sector account for 674 of the 13,580 received by the commission in 2022.

He said that the aviation sector complaints came behind those on financial services — 5,709, and the Electricity and Power sector — 3,293.

The drector said that complaints received about the aviation sector were on delays, cancellations, pilfered baggage, lost baggage and airport experience.

He said complaints were also received on the general condition of the terminals, cooling system and discourteous service, among others.

Abdullahi said that airlines did not communicate properly with their customers.

”Most times, if you explain to passengers what the problem is, they can understand, but operators don’t tell public what is actually going on with their operations.

“You buy a ticket, sit in the airport for unending hours, you don’t even get any sort of information on the status of your flight and that really angers passengers.

“If you usually carry them along and tell them, these are the challenges that you are facing, it brings down the tempers and that is always what we encourage our service providers to do and they should do that also”

The Operations Director noted that the commission was working on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and all sectors of consumer protection to address the lapses in the sector.

Meanwhile, he listed other sectors on which fewer complaints were received and the numbers.

They include Telecommunications, with 605; E-commerce with 508; Electrical electronics with 415; Food and Beverages with 222; Satellite and Cable services with 122.

Also listed are, Postal and Courier service with 71; Road transport with 69; Land and Construction with 65; Real estate with 63; Health services with 52: Education with 29, among others.

He said that 3,327 complaints were resolved out of the total number of complaints that were received by the commission.

“In the corresponding year, which was 2021, the commission received 10,178 complaints and resolved 1,990

“Financial services also topped the list with 2,736 complaints followed by electricity/power with 3043, telecommunications with 510, Aviation with 459 and Electrical/Electronic with 502.” he said.

January 23, 2023
Unregulated digital loans: FCCPC urges operators to make services accessible

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has urged unregulated digital money lending entities to comply with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) standards.

Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, said this when he engaged with the public via Twitter on Wednesday.

Irukera said the commission adopted the CBN standards as an interim position.

He said that some activities of unregulated money lenders were anti-competitive for Micro-Finance Banks and other regulated entities involved in digital money lending.

Irukera said the Federal Government was only concerned about interest rates calculation, privacy violation, harassment and mischaracterising borrowers in the digital money lending space.

He described some of their activities to borrowers and creditors as abusive, defamatory and illegal.

“The Federal Government is certainly not averse to the products of digital lending because it is one of the fastest ways of increasing our penetration rate to financial inclusion.

“But the question is that it must be done in a way that their services to the vulnerable people in the society do not turn to exploitation.

“The point that we are now as the FCCPC, is to adopt what the prevailing CBN’s standards are, insisting that those money lending institutions not regulated by the CBN comply with similar standards,’’ he said.

Irukera said that part of the operational guidelines given to digital money lenders by the Commission was to have a consumer feedback mechanism.

He said the guideline postulated that the feedback mechanism must be open, easily accessible, clear and functional that the FCCPC could have visibility into.

The executive vice chairman said that a dissatisfied borrower or guarantor could reach the digital money institution and they fix the problem.

September 28, 2022
BREAKING: FCCPC Assistant Director dies after office fight with colleague

Mr Julius Haruna, an Assistant Director and Head of the North-West Zone of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) with the zonal office in Katsina State is dead.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Haruna died in the Katsina office of FCCPC after involving in a dispute, which escalated to, and included physical contact, with another employee of the Commission.

The employee of the Commission identified as Ms. Muibat Taiwo Abdusalam, who has been arrested by the police and under detention, had accused Haruna of sexual harassment.

The FCCPC Assistant Director was found dead on the floor after the office brawl last week Wednesday and the deceased has been deposited in the morgue of Katsina General Hospital.

TNG gathered that there have been a record of past cross allegations of conflict and abuse/aggression by the deceased and Ms. Abdulsalam. The current claims include an assertion of insufficient remedial action by the management of FCCPC, it was learnt.

According to a statement by Tam Tamunokonbia, Director of Legal Services/Secretary to the Board of FCCPC, the Katsina State Police Command is currently investigating the matter.

“Although investigations are at early and inconclusive stages, information known suggests that he was involved in a dispute which escalated to, and included physical contact with Ms. Muibat Taiwo Abdusalam, another employee of the Commission,” the statement reads in part.

Confirming the incident, the police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah disclosed that the suspect had reportedly done a certain report for which she demanded N80,000.

The deceased directed the cashier to give N4,000 to Abdusalam, arguing that what she did was not up to the amount she demanded.

Isah said, according to the police investigation, an argument ensued between the suspect and the deceased in his office in the presence of the cashier who later left the two in a fierce argument.

He added that the victim allegedly manhandled the deceased, tore his clothes and took his nude picture. She reportedly rushed to the GRA police station, where she reported him for alleged sexual harassment.

“Our investigations also revealed that the suspect, Ms Muhibat, had fought four previous directors who were there before the deceased,” Isah said, adding that investigation into the matter was ongoing.

After her report at the police station, some police officers were said to have followed her to the directors office only to meet him lifeless on the floor, with bruises on his body.

Meanwhile, the FCCPC has said it is doing everything possible to assist the police with its investigation. In addition, the Governing Board of the Commission has instituted an independent internal investigation on the matter, to conclude within 21 working days or any extensions granted by the Board.

The statement by FCCPC reads: “On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, Mr Julius Haruna, Assistant Director and Head, FCCPC North-West Zonal Office, Katsina died in the Commission’s office in Katsina.

“Although investigations are at early and inconclusive stages, information known suggests that he was involved in a dispute which escalated to, and included physical contact with Ms. Muibat Taiwo Abdusalam, another employee of the Commission. The Katsina State Police Command is currently seized with, and continuing investigations. The deceased is currently deposited in the morgue of Katsina General Hospital and awaiting an autopsy. Ms. Abdusalam is currently detained by the state Police Command.

“On Thursday 18, 2022; the Commission visited the deceased’s family in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, and is continuing to provide support to the family. In addition, the Commission has been in communication with the family of the detained Ms. Abdusalam with respect to answering their questions and providing any legitimate and applicable support in the circumstances. The Commission is also assisting and supporting the Police investigation of the sad occurrence.

“There are current, and indeed a record of past cross allegations of conflict and abuse/aggression by the deceased and Ms. Abdulsalam; which current claims include an assertion of insufficient remedial action by the management of the Commission.

“In response to this sad incident, and events leading thereto, the Governing Board of the Commission held an emergency Board meeting yesterday, August 22, 2022. The Board meeting decided by resolutions:

“1. To immediately and forthwith institute an independent internal investigation, to conclude within 21 working days or any extensions granted by the Board;

“2. Appointed Dr. Ben Nwoye (Legal practitioner and non-executive Commissioner/Board member) as Chair of the Independent Internal Investigation Panel (Panel); and Air Vice Marshal Wakili Abdullahi Ahmed (Rtd), (also a non executive Commissioner/ Board member) as Co-Chair of the Panel;

“3. To invite representatives of the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation as members of the Panel; 4. Directed Executive Management of the Commission to immediately engage an experienced and independent legal counsel as member, guide and support to the Panel;

“5. Immediately but temporarily relieve relevant leadership and operatives within the Commission in order to ensure a fair, transparent and credible investigation.

“Although there have been some news coverage of this painful incident, none of the speculations therein are fully verified or sufficiently established as valid evidence.

“The Commission will continue to make appropriate, full, and frank disclosures of information, any investigative outcomes and or judicial processes (where applicable). The Commission notwithstanding continues to discharge its mandate including across the North-West of Nigeria.

“Once again, the Governing Board of the Commission extends its deepest condolence to the family and friends, as well as co-workers/colleagues of the late Mr. Julius Haruna”.

August 23, 2022
Soko digital money lender, others barred from providing loan services

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has ordered all financial technology companies (FinTechs) to stop providing payment or transaction services to digital money lenders under its investigation.

Mr Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday during an enforcement action on some of the digital money lenders in Lagos.

He identified such FinTechs to include Flutterwave, Opay, Paystack and Monify which are operating payment systems and providing services to such digital lenders under its investigation or not operating with applicable regulatory approvals.

Irukera said the commission also ordered telecommunication and technology companies which include Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to stop providing server, hosting or other key services such as connectivity to such disclosed or known lenders.

According to him, the Federal High Court empowers the commission to search and seize properties from premises of targets and subjects of investigation. This, he said made the commission to enforce the law against a company, widely known as Soko Lending Ltd.

“The information available to the commission demonstrates that Soko Lending appears to be the most consequential digital money lender with multiple apps and brand names. It is covering a significant share of the digital or online lending market, and one of the most prolific actors in violating consumer privacy, fair lending terms and ethical loan repayment/recovery practices.

“Prior to this operation, the commission had previously, on March 11, 2022 carried out a similar enforcement action with respect to multiple lenders; which action and continuing investigation has reduced previously high and escalating unethical, obnoxious and unscrupulously exploitative practices in the industry,” he said.

He, however, said some of the lenders who had been subject of investigation had devised methods to leverage on technology and other financial services alternatives to circumvent account freezing and app suspension Orders.

“With the operations today, the commission expects appreciable additional reduction in these unacceptable practices. The commission has also today entered further Orders that will disable or diminish violators’ ability to devise circumvention efforts or alternative mechanisms to circumvent the objective of the investigation and protection of citizens,” Irukera added.

According to him, the Order requires permission to proceed in digital lending; it provides a limited moratorium period for existing businesses to comply in order to continue in digital lending.

“The guidelines also mandate different service providers in the relevant ecosystem such as banks, access/download platforms or stores, technology providers and payment systems to require regulatory approval before providing services.

“The commission expresses its gratitude to victims and citizens who have provided information or contributed to the investigation; and welcomes the continuing engagement that provides the relevant information or intelligence through the already established and publicised channels,” the FCCPC boss said.

August 18, 2022
MultiChoice faces fresh N10m suit for hiking DStv, GOtv subscriptions

A Competition and Consumer Protection (CCPC) Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, okayed a N10 million fresh suit filed by a lawyer, Festus Onifade, against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, the operators of DStv and Gotv.

Onifade, in the amended originating summons, also sought the order of the tribunal directing and mandating MultiChoice to adopt to a pay-as-you-view model of billing for all its products and services forthwith.

The three-member tribunal led by Thomas Okosun granted the lawyer’s reliefs in an application seeking for a leave to amend his earlier originating summons.

The tribunal, which dismissed the objection of counsel for the company, Jamiu Agoro, ordered the defendants in the matter to file their responses to the new application within 21 days.

The claimants; Onifade, a legal practitioner, and Coalition of Nigeria Consumers, on behalf of himself and others, had sued the company and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.

They had prayed the tribunal for an order, restraining the firm from increasing its services and other products on April 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated and filed on March 30, and the tribunal granted the ex-parte motion, directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.

But the company, inspite of the tribunal’s order, was alleged to have gone ahead with the price increase on DStv and Gotv subscriptions.

And on April 11, the tribunal ordered MultiChoice to revert back to the old prices by maintaining status quo of its March 30 order pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

At the resumed hearing, Onifade informed that on June 15 when the panel sat, the matter was adjourned for application on amendment.

He, however, said that due to minor irregularities in the earlier motion filed on June 7, he decided to file another applicated dated June 17 but filed June 20 (today) to substitute the first one.

“We are withdrawing the earlier application dated June 7 and substituting it with that of June 17,” he said.

He further said that though the 2nd defendant had been served, the 1st defendant (MultiChoice) lawyer refused to collect the application from him.

Okosun then directed Agoro to collect the process so that the tribunal could give the matter accelerated hearing.

After being served in the open court, Agoro asked for a cost having joined issues with Onifade in the earlier application he sought to substitute and the tribunal awarded a N20, 000 cost against the claimants.

The tribunal, therefore, granted Onifade’s reliefs to move the application seeking leave to amend the originating summons.

Moving the motion, he said the application dated June 17 was filed June 20.

He said the process had a 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by himself and supported with an exhibit.

“The proposed amendment had been filed and served on the defendants. We pray that the proposed amendment be deemed properly filed, same having been served,” he said.

In opposing the application, Agoro said he filed a written address on behalf of MultiChoice on June 17.

According to him, the same written address was filed on June 17 but deemed as properly filed and served today.

“We adopt the arguments contain in this written address in urging this honourable tribunal to dismiss the instant application as same lacks merit,” he said.

Agoro, who described the application as “overreaching,” argued that Onifade failed to present sufficient materials to convince the tribunal.

Counsel for the FCCPC (2nd defendant), Tam Tamuno, said though he was not opposing the application for amendment, he said the texture of the complaints filed by Onifade had changed.

“The first originating process did not contain any reliefs against the second defendant whereas the second amended version is seeking some prayers against the second defendant,” he said.

Tanumo also said that the earlier affidavit had just 15 paragraphs but the fresh affidavit contained 23 paragraphs.

The lawyer then stated that though he would not oppose Onifade’s application for amendment, “we will require time to file our reaction to the new issues that have been raised by the fresh application.”

Responding, Onifade urged the tribunal to discountenance the arguments of the two defendants

According to him, it is the law that where a defendant intends to controvert an affidavit-based evidence, such defendant must, as a point of law, filed a counter affidavit.

He argued that where a defendant failed to file a counter affidavit, it would be deemed that all the averments in the application are not opposed, citing previous cases to back his arguments.

Delivering a ruling, the tribunal held that where amendment enables counsel to correct errors, mistakes in his application in the interest of justice without prejudice to other parties, such application ought to be granted.

Citing different authorities to support the ruling, the tribunal said “the fundamental object of litigation is to decide the rights of parties, and not citing mistakes of parties..”

“In conclusion, though the 1st defendant put up serious argument, he does not point out any injustice he will suffer in this and he did not file a counter affidavit to the application,” the tribunal said.

The tribunal, subsequently, granted the leave for the claimants to amend their originating summons and deemed it to have been properly filed.

It then adjourned the matter until July 21 for hearing.

In the new originating summons, the claimants also sought a declaration that the tariffs increase in products and services “in respect of the 1st defendant and any other subsequent proposed increase of April 1 without prior resolution of the claimants’ petitions to the 2nd defendant is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“An order of this honourable tribunal directing and mandating the 1s defendant to reverse back to the price regime prior to the price and products increase prior of April, 2020.

“An order of this honourable tribunal directing and mandating the 1st defendant to adopt to PAY-AS-YOU-VIEW model of billing for all its products and services forthwith.

“An order of this honourable tribunal directing and mandating the defendants jointly and or severally, to pay the claimants the sum of N10, 000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only for general damages resulting from all manner of psychological traumas, hardship and the continuous violation of the claimant’s and compensation for various anti-consumer’s acts.

“An order of this honourable tribunal directing and mandating the defendants jointly and or severally to pay N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) only as cost of this suit.”

June 20, 2022
BREAKING: Ibom Air pulls out of planned suspension of flight operations by AON

Ibom Air has pulled out of the planned suspension of flight operations by Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON that as from Monday all flight operations will be suspended in Nigeria.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is coming few hours after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in a statement calling off the bluff of the airlines operators to suspend operations.

TNG had reported FCCPC as saying airline operators will not deliberately sell tickets for flights they do not intend to operate, and as such a solution short of a shutdown will emerge accordingly.

In the statement dated May 7 and signed by Akwa Ibom Air management, the airline said:

“Ibom Airlines Limited (Ibom Air) has been inundated with inquiries about what will happen on Monday 09 May, 2022, following the public statement issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Executive, on Friday 06 May, 2022 and it has become necessary for us to make the following clarifications:

“Ibom Air acknowledges the existential threat that these runaway fuel price increases pose for the air transport industry in Nigeria. We agree that this out-of-control situation is simply unsustainable.

“However, every airline has its unique business model and pressures. We believe that in spite of the escalating fuel prices, airlines volunteering to stop operations would rather exacerbate an already bad situation.

“Ibom Air has financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, which depend on uninterrupted flow of revenue to service. More importantly is the fact that having been paid by customers in advance for flight bookings we are bound by contract to deliver the services already paid for, to avoid exposing the airline to the risk of avoidable litigation.

“Apart from the above factors, Ibom Air is currently the only airline serving Akwa Ibom State directly and as such, any voluntary stoppage of operations would completely cut off access by air into and out of the State. Such action would be directly in conflict with and detrimental to the interest of our shareholder.

“In view of the foregoing facts, Ibom Air had respectfully disagreed with the decision of AON to suspend flight operations on Monday 09 May 2022. Ibom Air cannot in the circumstance volunteer to stop operating and will continue normal operations on Monday 09 May 2022 and beyond. Ibom Air’s inclusion as “signatory” to the statement released by AON must have derived from its active and committed membership of the AON.

“The above notwithstanding, we identify very strongly with our AON colleagues and will participate in every effort to resolve this frightening situation as soon as possible in the interest of our business, our customers, our stakeholders and our country.

“We thank our customers for their continued patronage and we thank the AON for our collective efforts to secure a sustainable fuel pricing regime for the airlines”.

May 7, 2022