In response to reports that Nigerian airline Azman Air may have helped Iranian Aviation Industries evade U.S. sanctions, the Federal Government has announced that relevant agencies will investigate the matter.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) clarified, however, that issues related to smuggling fall under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
NCAA spokesperson Mike Achimugu, speaking with newsmen stated, “Is the NCAA mentioned in the report? Smuggling is under the purview of Customs, not the NCAA. Until these allegations are confirmed, I cannot comment on them. These are serious claims, and I have forwarded the matter to the relevant directorates for investigation.”
The controversy stemmed from a report by the Middle East Forum Observer, which claimed that Iran’s largest airline, Mahan Air, received an Airbus A340-642 widebody passenger aircraft from Azman Air on November 15, 2024.
According to the report, while the aircraft was en route from Kano to Kabul, its crew reportedly turned off the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder at an altitude of 39,000 feet after entering Iranian airspace. The aircraft eventually landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport.
