Nigeria Air will fly before the end of this administration – Sirika

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has assured Nigerians that Nigeria Air Limited will fly before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration

A Federal High Court in Lagos which presided over a case filed by domestic airliners, had ordered the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) not to issue an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to Nigeria Air Limited. 

The domestic airline operators, under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), challenged the equity structure of the airline which cedes 49 per cent stake to Ethiopian Airlines, and the Federal Government having only 5 per cent while the remaining 46 per cent is for Nigerian investors.

The minister revealed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, April 26, he said that everything needed to begin operation is in place.

“Nigeria Air Limited. I did say that we will get it going before the end of this administration and I’ve not withdrawn my words. We have everything in place – the aircraft, offices, operational centers, staffing and everything needed is in place. We’re doing the last minute checks and waiting for the issuance of the AOC and it will fly.

“It will fly; it will be for the benefit of this country, for the size of population, the traveling public and what it does to the economy, especially to tourism, to African integration and to the AU Agenda 2063. It’s a very important project and I must do, it will happen before the end of our tenure in the next four weeks and two days, he said