Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, says aviation matters are on the exclusive list of the federal government, faulting the order of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, that two pilots of Caverton Helicopters should be arrested.
The governor had accused Caverton Helicopter of violating the lockdown order imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
After their arrest, the pilots were subsequently arraigned at a magistrate’s court and remanded in prison till May.
The airline had kicked against the remand of the pilots, saying aviation authorities granted it the permission to fly into Rivers state.
At a press briefing organised by the presidential task force on COVID-19, Sirika corroborate the position of Caverton Helicopters, accusing the security operatives who arrested the pilots on the governor’s order of “displaying ignorance”.
He vowed that the federal government would do every thing legally possible to secure the release of the pilots.
