The Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation has disclosed that local and international flights of the national carrier, Nigeria Air will begin soon. This was despite the controversies around its establishment.
According to The Punch, the minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this during the ongoing National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023 in Abuja on Thursday.
The nation’s proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, was unveiled in 2018 at the Farnborough Air Show in England.
The plan was however stopped about 60 days after the announced owing concerns around its relevance and viability.
In the minister’s statement, “Negotiation meeting with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria 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.”
According to the report, the minister continued by saying that by establishing the national carrier, Nigeria would be able to reduce capital flight from the country, maximize the benefits of BASA and SAATM, and create an aviation hub.
The National Carrier will also help the Nigerian Agricultural Sector expand and develop, contribute to the GDP, facilitate hospitality and tourism, and create jobs near the Agro-Cargo Terminals.
