Minister Festus Keyamo’s decision to put a halt to all activities concerning Nigeria Air, the national carrier, and other projects has garnered commendation and support from the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
This was announced by Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the association, in a statement released on Friday.
As stated in the announcement, the AON expressed its appreciation to the minister for demonstrating extraordinary courage and a profound commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from additional aviation sector embarrassment.
Keyamo, during his visit to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Keyamo opted to suspend the Nigeria Air and airport concession projects until he furnishes Mr. President with a briefing on his discoveries.
A section of the statement reads, ‘We, the entire membership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, commend the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, for suspending every activity related to the operationalisation of Nigeria Air.’
‘By the action, the minister has displayed rare courage and great patriotism to save Nigeria from further embarrassment in the aviation world.’
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Besides those with vested interests in aviation, it was evident to anyone keeping tabs on the Nigeria Air project during the previous administration that the concept was not just poorly conceived but also lacked transparency.
‘It was therefore no surprise that the House of Representatives Committees on Aviation which investigated the process and purported launch of Nigeria Air on Friday, June 2, 2023, described it as a ‘fraud’.’
Okonkwo went on to underscore that the AON, with other aviation industry stakeholders, had long maintained the view that the Nigeria Air project during the previous administration was inadequately planned and devoid of transparency. He noted that this standpoint was corroborated by the House of Representatives Committees on Aviation, who denounced the project as a ‘fraud’ in their inquiry.
Nigeria Air, the national carrier project, had been surrounded by controversies, particularly at the expiration of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
As stated in a letter from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Air met challenges and was unable to proceed to phase two of the AOC process in June 2023.
However, the AON said it remained convinced that the suspension of the Nigeria Air project would give room for meticulous examination, and the minister would work towards fixing the loopholes and revive Nigeria’s expiration in the international aviation community.
The statement additionally expressed its faith in the idea that launching a national carrier under the conditions prescribed by the former aviation minister would be detrimental to Nigeria’s aviation sector, with the possibility of Ethiopian Airlines emerging as the dominant player.