Nigerian aviation authority says domestic airlines not set to close

Nigeria's aviation authority Thursday rejected suggestions that some of the country's airlines were set to close after 2 carriers suspended flights indefinitely. Airlines in Nigeria, which is in its first recession for more than 20 years because of the effects of a slump in oil revenues, have experienced fuel shortages in the last few months because the supply of dollars needed to pay for refined oil products has dried up. The fuel shortages have caused an increase in cancellations and delays to flights across the nation. Airline Aero Contractors said all of its scheduled flights were "temporarily suspended" from Sept 1. Another airline, First Nation, also said that it had suspended its flights. "The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has dismissed sundry claims that some airlines are winding down their operations," said DG Muhtar Usman. <br/>