The Senate has rejected proposals to revive the controversial Nigeria Air project, describing further efforts to salvage the initiative as unnecessary and urging the Federal Government to pursue alternative plans for establishing a national airline.
The position was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The Nigeria Air project, launched under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and championed by former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, has remained a subject of controversy since its suspension.
While dismissing calls to revisit the project, lawmakers maintained that Nigeria still requires a strong and functional national carrier capable of competing in the international aviation industry. They therefore urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to explore fresh options for creating a new airline.
The debate arose from a motion seeking improved implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and China. Senator Monguno called on the Federal Government to renegotiate and enforce the agreement to ensure Nigerian airlines obtain the necessary approvals to operate direct flights to China.
According to the lawmaker, Nigeria and China had previously agreed to strengthen commercial air links and increase flight operations between both countries. However, he argued that the agreement had not been fully implemented to provide Nigerian carriers with equal opportunities.
Monguno urged relevant agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service, to work together to ensure effective implementation of the agreement.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi described the proposal as beneficial to Nigeria’s economic interests but stressed the need for reciprocity in aviation relations with China. He expressed concern that Nigerian airlines were not enjoying the same level of access granted to Chinese carriers.
Ningi further suggested that the BASA arrangement should be reviewed if reciprocal flight rights were not guaranteed for Nigerian operators.
In his remarks, Akpabio emphasised the importance of building a strong indigenous airline capable of representing Nigeria’s interests in the global aviation market, while making it clear that the Nigeria Air project should not be revived.
The Senate’s resolution reflects lawmakers’ preference for establishing a new framework for a national carrier rather than returning to the abandoned Nigeria Air initiative.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com