A statement by James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, has quoted Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika announcing Federal Government’s plan to address the suspension of Nigeria Air.
Sirika said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, will address aviation stakeholders and the general public on issues relating to the recent suspension of the national carrier project.
The Minister acknowledged the plethora of opinions, comments and observations by stakeholders and Nigerians following the suspension of the project.
According to him, it has become necessary to address some of the issues, misinformation, allegations and opinions trending in the media in order to keep the public well informed on the status of the proposed national carrier prior to the suspension.
Sirika had on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, announced the Federal Government’s decision to suspend its national carrier, Nigeria Air from takeoff.
The national carrier was on Wednesday, July 18 2018, unveiled at Farnborough Air Show in London.
It was of expectation that on December 19, 2018, the airline would commence operation and subsequently grow capacity to 20 aircraft in the next five years, having started with five aircraft.
While receiving the OBC of compliance certificate, Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika revealed that the airline would start yielding profits in the first three years of operation.
To get the national carrier project off its feet, a sum of N1.52 billion was in 2015, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
In August 2015, the Nigerian government setup a 13-member committee to consult with international partners for the establishment of a national airline for Nigeria. In the same year, the committee submitted its report to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello.
Nairametrics had reported that Aviation industry experts, unanimously revealed why Nigeria’s new national career is yet to take-off. This, according to a report, was disclosed at the 4th quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting organised by the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI) in Lagos.
The experts lamented the lack of proper consultation by the Federal Government with knowledgeable Aviation industry experts led to the suspension of Nigeria Air’s take-off.
