Why FG Pulled The Plug On New National Carrier, Nigeria Air

In what stunned most Nigerians, the Federal Government, on Wednesday, suspended the National Carrier, Nigeria Air, procurement indefinitely.

The Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja.

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The airline was launched during the Farnborough Air Show in London in July.

According to Premium Times, the suspension was made because the Economic Management Team (EMT) did not approve it when it launched.

According to the report, the EMT, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, recommended that the Nigerian government should not set up a national carrier with public funds.

Sirika announced the cancellation shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

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“I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always,” he said.

There were doubts about the commitment and transparency of the FG about the project.

One of those who doubted the sincerity of government is Capt. Yunusa Kazaure, a former pilot with Nigeria Airways.

Kazaure insisted that for the government to set up a new national carrier for the country, it should not be more than nine months and wondered why the government was yet to do so almost three years later.

Kazaure declared that from all indications, the government lacked the will to set up a new national airline for Nigeria, stressing that the engagement of transaction advisers by the government was a wrong step, which would not achieve its desired results.

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