The federal government says Nigeria Air, the country’s
proposed national carrier, would begin operations before the end of the
President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, spoke at the national
aviation stakeholders forum 2023 in Abuja on Thursday.
In October 2022, Buhari had said the national carrier would
commence flight services by December 2022, but that did not happen due to
controversy surrounding the airline’s ownership structure, leading to a court
order stopping the federal government from implementing the project.
Speaking at the stakeholder forum, Sirika said the latest
deadline is another proposed date for the take-off of Nigeria Air.
He said the project is 98 percent completed.
“All of the roadmap items except, perhaps the airline which
in my opinion is at 98 percent completion, and we will fly within these
remaining two months by the grace of God,” the minister said.
“We will also finish the concessions. So, all those things
we said we would do when we came in, we did them.
“Before the end of
this administration, before May 29th, we will fly.”
Speaking on the bidding process of the Nigeria Air project,
Sirika said he had hoped Emirate, Lufthansa, and Qatar airlines would emerge as
the preferred bidders.
However, he said he was pleased that the Ethiopian Airlines
(ET) consortium eventually emerged the winner.
The minister explained that, except for Overland Airways, he
approached international and domestic airlines about partnering with Nigeria
Air.
“When we were setting
up Nigeria Air limited, my gut feeling is to partner with airlines that I think
will add value, with financial experience and high profile such as Emirate,
Qatar, Lufthansa, and the rest of them,” he said.
“Those who worked closely with me know that this is my
forecast and what I wanted because I believe if you partner with Lufthansa for
example, automatically you will have license to fly.
“I thought we would do that, and I made attempts to reach
them and invite them, as I did with all airline owners in Nigeria, except
Overland.
“I reached out to them personally to come and partner to
create a strong airline but fast forward, we had a bidder, Ethiopian airline.
“I was very happy
that we got them (Ethiopian) to come. It was not my choice but I am happy now
knowing what I know.
“They are a household name, strong, and they have been in
business for 70 years unbroken and they have over 200 aircraft.
“So, I am very glad
we are partnering with them and it is a reality.
“Some airlines are in court and their grouse is that it can
be any airline in the world but not Ethiopian because, in their own way, they
think Ethiopian is a competitor.”
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Rubbish, another white elephant project that the useless politicians / leaders want to use as an avenue to loot and plunder the treasury. I'm 100% sure that it will go under within the shortest possible time.
ReplyDeleteYou're a pessimist. They're doing something commendable but no, you can't even see the good in it..
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