The parent company of Caverton Helicopters Ltd has said that they are dialoguing with relevant stakeholders to ensure the reopening of the company’s offices in Rivers State.
The airline’s parent company, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc., said this in a statement on Tuesday signed by its secretary, Amaka Obiora, and uploaded on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Mrs Obiora said the company would continue to engage relevant state and federal authorities for the reopening of the company’s premises shut on April 9 by the government in Rivers.
“We are optimistic of a peaceful resolution of the misunderstanding on restriction of movement,” the statement said.
“Caverton remains committed to responsible business conduct which entails above all, compliance with laws of Rivers State and Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Rulebook of the Exchange, 2015, COSG wishes to comment on the recent detention of two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots and the closure of its offices by the Rivers State Government.”
Obiora explained that the 14-day lockdown order by President Muhammadu Buhari which began on March 30 exempted upstream and downstream operations in the oil and gas industry.
Governor Nyesom Wike had given an executive order on March 19 disallowing vehicles and flights from entering Rivers.
Obiora noted that upon returning from an offshore flight on April 7, two of its pilots along with 10 offshore workers were detained and charged to court by the Rivers Government for apparent breach of an executive order.
The company secretary said Caverton did not act to undermine or over-ride the governor’s order or to breach the state’s COVID-19 Containment Order.
Obiora noted that Caverton relied on an approval granted by the Federal Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to provide logistics to companies in oil and gas.
