Victor EzejaThe Nigerian government has cleared the air on the issue of reviving the Nigeria Air Project.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the Federal Government has no intention to revive the botched Nigeria Air Project.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelKana stated this to clarify the ambiguity sparked by his comment during a handover ceremony in Abuja recently about having a national carrier.
He had during the event, highlighted some of the tasks given to him, which according to him, include ensuring the national carrier becomes a reality and sanitizing airports across the country.
His comment on the national carrier raised questions about whether the Federal Government intends to revive Nigeria Air, which has been suspended.
Responding, Kana in a statement on Wednesday, said he never said he was given a mandate to revive the Nigeria Air Project.
The permanent secretary explained that he was only referring to the general vision of the government to have a national carrier and not going back to revive the Nigeria Air.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I never said there is a mandate to revive the botched Nigeria Air deal with Ethiopian airline. I received no such instruction,” Kana stated.
‘’I was only referring to the general vision of the administration to still consider a national carrier project if it is favourable to the country and under the guidance and directives of Mr President and the minister of aviation. I hope this clarifies all the ambiguities surrounding my earlier statement on this issue.”
Kana pledged loyalty to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, adding that he remains dedicated to working closely with him to actualise the ministry’s noble agenda of boosting the country’s aviation sector.
The idea of the Nigeria Air project was birthed by Hadi Sirika, the former minister of aviation. Sirika had promised to ensure that the national carrier was created before the end of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The project was trailed with controversies following allegations of corruption and the discovery of the arrangement with the Ethiopian Airlines which was considered lopsided as it gave higher equity stake to the airline.
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The project was subsequently suspended by the Federal Government after the commencement of Tinubu’s administration.
Analysts have expressed divergent views on the debate about Nigeria having a national carrier. Some have argued that Nigeria does not need a national carrier, urging that existing domestic airlines should be designated flag carriers and given adequate support to operate across the world. They also raise concerns about management of the airline and sustainability of the business being a public entity
However, others insisted that having a national carrier gives a sense of national pride anywhere it operates across the world.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
