By Abdoulie Nyockeh
NIRO Company Limited has issued a statement addressing recent media reports concerning remarks attributed to employees of Gambia International Airlines (GIA) about NIRO’s operations at Banjul International Airport.
The company emphasised that while it respects the right of workers to raise concerns about employment and working conditions, allegations against NIRO must be supported by facts. NIRO rejected suggestions that its competitive pricing amounts to unfair competition, stressing that its rates are based on operating costs, investments, and agreements with airline customers.
“Airlines are free to choose their service providers based on safety, quality, reliability, performance, and price. Competition should encourage improvement, not restrict customer choice,” the statement read.
NIRO also addressed claims that government officials may hold interests in the company, calling such allegations serious and urging anyone with credible evidence to present it to the appropriate authorities. The company pledged full cooperation with any legitimate investigation.
Highlighting its contributions, NIRO noted significant investments in aviation services, training, and employment for Gambians. It underscored that it has no interest in seeing GIA workers lose their livelihoods, but cautioned against making NIRO a scapegoat for another company’s challenges.
“Our position is simple: let both companies compete fairly, let the regulator apply the same standards to everyone, and let performance, safety, service quality, and customer satisfaction speak for themselves,” NIRO stated.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to The Gambia, the development of Banjul International Airport, and the growth of a stronger, more competitive aviation sector. NIRO added that it remains open to media inquiries regarding its operations and service delivery.
