The recent suspension of the National Carrier project by the Federal Government as announced by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has continued to generate various reactions from Nigerians.
Before we go to what people said below is a quick refresher:
- The defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a Nigerian Carrier and was founded in 1958.
- Due to huge debt and corruption by the management of the airline, the airline ceased operations in 2003 and was liquidated a year later.
- The Nigerian Government later came to an agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways to found Virgin Nigeria Airways, intended as a replacement.
- Even though Virgin Nigeria succeeded Nigeria Airways, their operations were also short-lived.
- President Buhari during his electioneering campaigns promised to float a new National Carrier.
- After election into office, the Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika had promised that the new private sector-driven National Carrier will be launched in December this year.
- On July 12 2018, The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, unveiled the branding and livery for a new national flag carrier, Nigeria Air, at a press conference at the Farnborough Air Show in London, United Kingdom.
Reactions by Nigerians on Social media
A whooping sum of ₦1.2Billion tax payers money wasted on the National Carrier Project, the Nigeria Air. Money that should have been invested in Education and Healthcare development. Our party must present a better alternative for Nigerians in 2019. We can’t continue like this.
— Hassan Ibrahim Dankwambo (@HEDankwambo) September 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheMbuhari/status/1042462552008081414
After giving out $600000 to a company in Bahrain to design Nigeria Air logo
After spending huge amount of taxpayers' money on an expensive trip to UK to launch Nigeria Air logo
The entire charade has now been suspended indefinitely
Buhari is the greatest fraud of this age
— nafeeu 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇨🇩 (@nafeezi) September 19, 2018
Word of the street is that the Nigeria Air shortlived flight of fancy cost Nigeria only N1.2b before it crashed. Naturally, that won't be all. Grand total would be north of N2b.Some expensive flight for a journey that took place only in people's imagination, & pictures of Twitter
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) September 19, 2018
Nigeria Air was a flop from the very moment the logo was unveiled. The right steps were not taken, and the few of us who pointed it out were terribly insulted. Now they suspend it indefinitely.
We want Nigeria to progress, but for it to happen, things must be done right. pic.twitter.com/nigx44dtDx
— Nejeeb Bello Oyarese (@NejeebBello) September 19, 2018
