The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has reacted to the letter written by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Executive Jets Services Limited, Sam Iwuakoju, on the circumstances around a Lagos-Abuja flight operated on Saturday.
The Minister describes the letter as ridiculous as he claimed he has not travelled out of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Since March 22.
The West African Pilot News has earlier reported the apology tendered by the Executive Jets Services as it boycotted the lockdown order on Saturday.
The airline was suspended by the Federal Government for flying a musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, and his crew to Abuja to perform at a concert.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had announced the suspension of the Airline during a Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Following the suspension, the Chairman of the Airline wrote an apology letter to the Minister of Aviation, saying he gave the approval for the flight thinking the passenger was Fashola.
The former Lagos State Governor in his reaction, through his Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, on Tuesday, said,
“The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN, has been drawn to a letter signed by the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr. Sam Iwuajoku concerning a flight it operated to Abuja last weekend.
“For purposes of clarity and in order to set the records straight, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has not travelled out of Abuja since March 22, 2020, when he returned there after an inspection tour of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway construction work and a visit to Lagos, before the lockdown.
“The decision of the Hon. Minister not to travel was taken in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state travels as part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is therefore ridiculous for Dr. Iwuajoku to attempt to link the Hon. Minister with any non-compliant flight.”
