Nigeria’s contentious national carrier, Nigeria Air, may begin operations before the swearing-in of a new administration on May 29, according to Hadi Sirika, the country’s minister of aviation.
On Thursday in Abuja, the minister made this announcement during the National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023.
“Local and international flight operations will soon begin. We will fly before this administration ends on May 29,” Mr. Sirika declared.
“Negotiation sessions with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium are now taking place. The Complete Business Case must now be approved by the Federal Executive Council.
The minister emphasized that the development of the national carrier will help Nigeria by reducing capital flight from the country and maximizing the benefits of bilateral aviation safety.
Additionally, according to Mr. Sirika, the national carrier will boost the GDP of the nation, promote hospitality and tourism, support the expansion and development of Nigeria’s agricultural industry, and generate jobs near the Agro-Cargo Terminals.
The Muhammadu Buhari administration has drawn criticism from many Nigerians for attempting to launch a new national airline after the last national airline, Nigeria Airways, collapsed partly as a result of corruption.
However, the government, which has been in power for less than two months, has stated that the new carrier will only be partially owned by the government and will be run by a private partner.
Some local airlines in Nigeria have, however, filed a lawsuit against the federal government, requesting that the court halt the new national carrier because it would have unfair advantages over existing airlines operating there.
A Federal High Court in Lagos issued an order of temporary injunction prohibiting the Nigerian government from establishing the national carrier in November of last year.
Mr. Sirika claimed in February that there was no court order prohibiting the launch of Nigeria Air and that it would shortly begin operations.
Nigeria’s foreign exchange situation, meantime, has been worse recently as its foreign reserves have been depleted.
The aviation industry has been greatly influenced by this. Domestic and international airlines are dealing with soaring aviation fuel prices in addition to foreign airlines having trouble releasing their stuck assets.
The foremost global trade body for airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), pleaded with the Nigerian government two weeks ago to permit international airlines.
A Federal High Court in Lagos issued an order of temporary injunction prohibiting the Nigerian government from establishing the national carrier in November of last year.
Mr. Sirika claimed in February that there was no court order prohibiting the launch of Nigeria Air and that it would shortly begin operations.
Nigeria’s foreign exchange situation, meantime, has been worse recently as its foreign reserves have been depleted.
The aviation industry has been greatly influenced by this. Domestic and international airlines are dealing with soaring aviation fuel prices in addition to foreign airlines having trouble releasing their stuck assets.
The foremost global trade body for airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), pleaded with the Nigerian government two weeks ago to permit international airlines to repatriate their funds trapped in the country.
The planned national carrier for Nigeria, Nigeria Air, was announced on July 18 at the Farnborough Air Show in England.
Two months after it was launched, the project was put on hold because of worries about its viability and applicability.
A preliminary cost of $8.8 million and a take-off cost of $300 million were anticipated for the new airline.
The concept of a national airline was floated several years after Nigeria Airways, the country’s former airline, failed owing to fraud and poor management.
The Federal Executive Council gave its approval in July to the leasing of three aircraft, allowing the airline to start flying.
Mr. Sirika stated at a press conference in Abuja in September of last year that Ethiopian Airlines emerged as a core stakeholder in Nigeria Air with a 49 percent stake.