The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), said it is not rebranding Arik Air or any other airline under its control, but only approached the aviation authorities in the country to seek a license for an independent entity where all of its aviation assets would be transferred and efficiently managed.
Jude Nwauzor stated this in a statement issued, by Head, Corporate Communications Department, AMCON, in reaction to the speculated story of AMCON rebranding Arikair.
Jude said, AMCON’s aim is to support the sector and more importantly recover the huge debt owed the Corporation by these aviation entities and seeking of licence for an independent entity where all of its aviation assets would be transferred and efficiently managed in a synergetic manner, adding that ‘the proposed new entity therefore has nothing to do with the rebranding any of the airlines within its portfolio as being speculated in several online publications’.
“Following its mandate especially as it relates to the aviation sector of the Nigerian economy, it is public knowledge that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had approached the aviation authorities in the country seeking a licence for an independent entity where all of its aviation assets would be transferred and efficiently managed in a synergetic manner.
“AMCON currently has more than five airlines in its aviation partfolio among other assets that are scattered all over. The proposed new entity therefore has nothing to do with the rebranding any of the airlines within its portfolio as being speculated in several online publications.
“The objective of AMCON’s intervention in the aviation sector is targeted at supporting the sector, given its importance, save thousands of jobs, make the aviation sector a catalyst for the growth of the Nigerian economy and recover the huge debt owed the Corporation by these aviation entities” , it stated.
The reaction is coming after it was reported that Arik Air livery is being changed and rebranded to Nigerian Eagle by its new owner, AMCON.
However, with the above response and the change of Arik Air’s livery and planned change of name, as well as seeking bulk licensing for all airlines under them; AMCON is yet to explain how what is being carried out is not a rebrand.