By JUMI RHODES
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi , is known for his business acumen and philanthropy. For over 12 years, the first-class king before his emergence as Ooni successfully ran a conglomerate of companies in the Real Estate, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) sectors locally and abroad.Right now, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has shown interest in the aviation sector. To this end, the company, Oodua Royal Aviation Company Limited, which the Ooni and his wife HRH Yeyeluwa Wuraola Ogunwusi are directors/trustees, has applied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) for grant of Air Transport License(ATL) to operate scheduled and non-scheduled passengers and cargo services within and outside Nigeria. Other members on the board of directors/trustees are Captain Omololu Majekodunmi; Mr. Adedapo Abiodun; and Mr. Ayodeji Ojuroye.
Meanwhile earlier this week, two Nigerian airlines Aero Contractors, and First Nation suspended their services. Management of Aero Contractors said, “The impact of the external environment has been very harsh on our operational performance, hence management decision to suspend scheduled services operations indefinitely effective September 1, 2016, pending when the external opportunities and a robust sustainable and viable plan is in place for Aero Contractors to recommence its scheduled services.” With First Nation, the NCAA management said, “The First Nation Airlines on its part is in the middle of an Engine Replacement Programme for one of its aircrafts. Another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance as allowed by the regulatory authority.In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake schedule operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self regulatory suspension.”
