NIGERIA AIR WILL LAUNCH FLIGHTS BEFORE MAY 29 DESPITE CONTROVERSY, THE FG INSISTS

Hadi Sirika

The Federal Government has insisted that local and international flights will start soon despite controversy surrounding the launch of the national airline, Nigeria Air.

Flight operations would start before May 29, the transfer date of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who made this announcement on Thursday at the National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023 taking place in Abuja.

"Negotiation meetings with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria is ongoing.

"Next step: Federal Executive Council approval of the Full Business Case.

"Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly," the Minister said.

According to the Minister, establishing a national carrier for Nigeria will reduce capital flight from the country, maximize the use of BASA and SAATM, and create an aviation hub.

He continued by saying that the national carrier would boost the GDP, promote hospitality and tourism, support the expansion and improvement of the Nigerian agricultural sector, and generate jobs near the agro-cargo terminals.

Ethiopian Airlines would take a 49% ownership stake in NA after being chosen as the preferred bidder to found the airline. Nigerian airline operators denounced the development. To this end, Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON, brought a lawsuit against the founding of Nigeria Air in November of last year.

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