Article Summary
- The National Assembly has called for President Bola Tinubu to establish a committee to investigate the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air’s aircraft by former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
- The House Committee on Aviation has recommended the formation of a high-powered presidential panel to conduct a comprehensive review of the Nigeria Air project.
- The committee also proposed that individuals and organizations involved in the unveiling and operation of the aircraft be prosecuted, and emphasized the need for the panel to advise the government on the project’s future.
The National Assembly has called on President Bola Tinubu to set up a committee to probe the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air’s aircraft in Abuja by former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, said that it was necessary for the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency constitution a high-powered presidential panel undertake a holistic review of the Nigeria Air project.
The aviation committee also recommended that all individuals, groups and organisations involved in the controversial unveiling and operation into Nigeria of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft painted in Nigeria Air livery, belonging to Ethiopian Airlines be made to face prosecution.
Why the presidential panel of Inquiry is Necessary
The committee further emphasised the need for the proposed presidential panel after a careful review of the entire project to advise the Federal Government on the way forward.
The committee came up with the resolutions after evaluating the submissions by all the stakeholders and that of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Emmanuel Merebole who in his presentation admitted that the airline had not been launched, but that the aircraft was chartered to test Nigerians’ acceptance of the project.
Merebole also told the committee that Nigeria Air had not acquired any aircraft and that it had no Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), which the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) Capt. Musa Nuhu .also corroborated.
Other controversial revelations
In his submission, the Managing Director of Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), Basil Agbosrimi, confirmed that the handling company was yet to acquire shares in the national carrier.
The second named Nigerian institutional investor in the project, MRS, did not turn up for the meeting just as Ethiopian Airlines also abstained from the committee.
The committee equally established that the shareholders’ agreement was yet to be executed, which made it impossible to establish the funds being brought into the projects by all intended investors.
Nnaji had during his opening statements stressed that the purpose of the interaction was to prepare a guide for the incoming 10th Assembly to continue, adding that the committee was not opposed to the establishment of a national carrier, but would want it transparently done.
He said it was regrettable that Sirika failed to carry the parliament along in the entire arrangement despite promises of supplying the committee with details of the transactions.
He. however, praised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for refusing to bend the rules in favour of Nigeria Air, urging the authority to remain steadfast in its oversight of the industry.
Why rushing into the establishment of Nigeria Air? It appears something is wrong with the decision. I may quickly visualize high powered corruption in the deal with the Ethiopian Airline. Let President Tinubu wade into the suspected deal and exhume the culprits. This will stand as a test to the president’s intension to wipe out corruption in the country. It is very embarrassing for Nigeria to go so low to be leasing a used aircraft. Why not negotiate for a brand-new aircraft instead of a used one? The answer is left to the negotiator of the used aircraft. BAT will set a good example by making these lawless thieves a good example to others who may have the same attitude to dupe the nation. I commend the decision of the NASS that the deal should be investigated by the President.