Pix: Ethiopian aircraft dressed as Nigeria Air for national deception
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has suspended the country’s national carrier after sinking over N3bn into the project.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said Contracts awarded in respect of the controversial project, which immediate past Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika devoted energy in the last days of the Buhari Administration, will be properly audited.
Stating this yesterday during his first visit to the nation’s foremost gateway – the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Keyamo hinted of the plans for comprehensive reform of the industry to put things in proper perspective.
As part of the expected avion reform, Keyamo said that beginning from October 1, all foreign airlines will originate their flights from the new terminal of the MMIA to pave the way for renovation of the old terminal.
On the reasons for the decision on Nigeria Air, he said: “Nigeria Air has been suspended until I brief the President whom I owe absolute loyalty and honesty to the people of Nigeria about all that transpired concerning that project.
“We have to ensure that everything is right before we can go ahead with further transactions on it.”
As of the last count, the Federal Government had sunk N3 billion into the Nigeria Air project before May 29, without tangible results.
Ethiopian Airline, which got the franchise to run the national carrier was to have 49 per cent stake, with Nigeria Sovereign Fund and the Federal Government providing 46 per cent and five per cent, respectively.
Local airliners, under the auspices of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), was at the forefront of opposition to the project.
Its members instituted a legal action to force the reversal of the government decision to hire Ethiopian Airline to run a national carrier.
On May 26, a plane with Nigeria Airline inscription touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).
The flight, which had on board Sirika and the Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airline, Lemma Gudeta, generated controversy from critics, who faulted the arrangement.
In June, veteran aviator, Girma Wake, resigned as Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines amidst controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria Air.
The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt Dapo Olumide, said the aircraft used to unveil the career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines, adding that the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling – indicating a deception of arrival of a maiden flight of the Nigeria Air.
Additionally, the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation labelled the inauguration of the carrier as a grand national deception rooted in fraud./SHARE THIS
- Tags: Festus Keyamo, Nigeria Air
