Arik Air, Ireland partner on trade mission

The Irish Embassy in Nigeria and Enterprise Ireland has concluded plans to partner with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria by December 2015.

Speaking in Lagos recently, the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy stated that the trade mission to Nigeria would be one of the largest in recent times and also attracts a lot of interest in the aviation sector as there are about 250 aviation companies in Ireland.

Hoy, who led a team of Enterprise Ireland officials to Arik Aviation Centre in Lagos, stressed that the Irish Embassy in Nigeria has been committed to improving trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland.

The Head of Africa Region, Enterprise Ireland, Mr. Fred Klinkenberg who was in the team said Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in markets around the world.

The organization in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win exports sales on global markets. The Trade Mission Representative in Nigeria, Thessa Brongers Bagu while stressing that Arik Air is the airline of choice disclosed that Arik would be the official carrier to move the trade mission between Accra, Abuja and Lagos.

The Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide who led the management team of the airline to receive the visitors disclosed that Arik would be interested in flying the Lagos-Dublin route if there is enough traffic between the two countries.

He said Arik Air has become a strong force in Africa stressing that that the airline has relationship with a number of Irish companies. Meanwhile, a member of Arik Air cabin crew was on Monday night arrested at Heathrow Airport London by the UK Border Force in connection with alleged possession of items suspected to be banned substances.

According to Arik, the airline is presently carrying out its private investigation to determine how the cabin crewmember came about the suspected banned substance.

Arik Air will also be cooperating fully with the UK authorities and other appropriate agencies in their investigations. The airline again reaffirms its commitment to the fight against drug and illicit substances trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances.

Arik Air carries out very stringent checks on all members of staff and its travelling guests ahead of all flights. The airline will continue to focus its attention on measures to prevent the possibility of any future similar incidents, it stated.