The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has strongly rejected claims that Nigerian-registered aircraft were sold to Iran, insisting that it is not involved in any such transaction.
Speaking on the “Beyond 100 Days” program on TVC News, Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, addressed the allegations made by various news platforms earlier this week.
“These are weighty allegations that have been made. So the natural course of justice is to investigate these allegations,” Achimugu said. He emphasized that the NCAA would conduct a thorough probe to uncover the truth behind the reports.
The reports, which have caused widespread concern, suggest that two Nigerian-registered aircraft were illegally sold and smuggled to Iran. The two aircraft in question are an Airbus A340-600 with registration number 5N-AAM and a Boeing 737-300, registered as 5N-YSM.
These planes were allegedly sold to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline, in direct violation of international sanctions imposed on Iran. The aircraft are reportedly now stored at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport.
The claims surfaced following a report by the Middle East Forum Observer, which accused Azman Air, a Nigerian airline, of being involved in the controversial sale. The report also named other companies allegedly linked to Mahan Air’s efforts to evade sanctions in Africa.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Achimugu was quick to dismiss the reports, explaining that the NCAA had not received any official notification about the deregistration or sale of the aircraft.
“As far as the NCAA is concerned, we have not been involved in the sale of any aircraft,” Achimugu stated. He added that for such a transaction to occur, the aircraft would have to first be deregistered in Nigeria, a process that has not taken place in this case.
Achimugu also pointed out that the media reports lacked specific details, further questioning the validity of the claims. “To the best of our knowledge, no such thing has happened yet. The reports we have read, just like you have read, did not mention any specifics,” he said.
The NCAA has launched an investigation into how these aircraft could have been sold without the proper deregistration procedures. Achimugu stressed that the investigation would look into all aspects of the issue, including the possibility of unauthorized deregistration or illegal sales.
A key issue under scrutiny is the alleged deactivation of the aircraft’s transponders, a move that could make the planes difficult to track. Achimugu confirmed that the NCAA has contacted the Civil Aviation Authority of Iran to clarify the situation.
“We have already written the Iranian CAA for clarification on that. If a transponder was turned off outside our jurisdiction, then the CAA or Air Traffic Control of that country is supposed to have complained to us,” Achimugu explained. He added that the NCAA had not received any such complaint from Iran.
The NCAA’s investigation is ongoing, and Achimugu has assured the public that the findings will be made available to the public once they are completed.
“There is no evidence of the sale of any aircraft anywhere yet. The story is just being put out there that says aircraft have been sold. There is no evidence to that effect,” Achimugu stated. “As soon as the results of the investigations are out, it will be out there.”
The rejection of the claims comes at a time when the Nigerian aviation sector has faced increased scrutiny over safety and regulatory compliance. The NCAA’s commitment to investigating these serious allegations is crucial to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
These developments raise important questions about international sanctions enforcement, aircraft registration, and the role of aviation authorities in preventing illegal transactions.
The allegations of aircraft sales to Iran, if proven true, would have significant implications for both Nigeria and the global aviation community. However, until the investigation is concluded, the NCAA maintains that no such sale has occurred.
The public and aviation industry stakeholders will be closely watching as the NCAA works to uncover the facts surrounding this high-profile case.
Background on the Aircraft and Alleged Sale
The two aircraft mentioned in the allegations, the Airbus A340-600 (5N-AAM) and the Boeing 737-300 (5N-YSM), are both Nigerian-registered.
The Airbus A340 is a long-range, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner commonly used by airlines for long-haul flights. The Boeing 737-300 is a smaller, narrow-body, twin-engine jet typically used for short to medium-haul routes.
Both planes were allegedly sold to Mahan Air, which is based in Iran. Mahan Air has been on the radar of international authorities for its involvement in circumventing sanctions against Iran. The Iranian airline has been accused of operating flights to countries with sanctions against Iran, as well as being involved in various illegal activities.
