Nigeria’s largest local carrier, Arik Air, Thursday morning announced it is suspending all its domestic operations indefinitely following “persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) management.”

However, the airline’s claim of suspending operations voluntarily contradicted earlier unofficial reports that it was shut by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over an N18 billion debt the airline owes the aviation authority.

Following the development, thousands of passengers across Nigeria are stranded across the country, especially in Nigeria’s airports Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt.

More details later…