x

With 5% ownership by the government, Nigeria Air starts operations in April 2022

The proposed national carrier will begin flight in April next year, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has announced.

The development came three years after the Federal Government announced plans to establish a new national carrier, following the liquidation of the Nigerian Airways in 2003.

At the end of a virtual Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President, President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Sirika told State House correspondents that the Federal Government would own not more than five per cent equity stake in the national airline.

According to him, Nigerian entrepreneurs will own 46 per cent shares while international strategic partners will own 49 per cent stake.

The minister said his ministry presented two memoranda which were approved by FEC.

“The next one also is the approval of the outline business case for the establishment of the national carrier and this is the sixth time the memorandum appeared before Council. The sixth time, we got lucky to be passed by the Council.

“The structure of the proposed airline; the government will be own not more than five per cent. So, five per cent is the maximum equity that the government will take, then 46 per cent will be owned by Nigerian entrepreneurs. So, if you add that, it’s 51 per cent.”

Sirika noted that 49 per cent stake would be held by strategic equity partners that would be sourced during the procurement phase.

He added, “This airline, if started, within the first few years will generate about 70,000 jobs. These 70,000 jobs are higher than the total number of civil servants that we have in the country. Its importance has been well discussed, so; I’ll not go back to it. You had discussed it separately also on various fora as to the need for it.”

Speaking about the second memo, the minister said, “Today in Council, civil aviation presented two memoranda. The first one is approval for the award of contract for the provision of Automated Civil Aviation Regulatory Equipment, including software support and training, which will be located in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

“In summary, this is a software that will allow all of the activities of civil aviation regulation to be done electronically on one platform, including payments, including follow-ups on personnel licensing, the medicals, the economic regulation of airlines, safety regulation of airlines and all other businesses within the envelope of civil aviation will be monitored by this single software.

“It is called ‘the truth machine’ in Europe because all of the truth of the regulation of civilisation will appear on this platform. It’s extremely important software that the world has now come to terms with.”

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Kaduna health ministry partners CSOs, others for improved maternal, child health 

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna  Kaduna State Ministry of Health in...

GSM Market Inferno: Governor Yusuf Injects Over N2 Billion Into Market

By Jabiru Hassan, Kano. Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf,...

Hon. Usman Gorau Distributes Vehicles and Motorcycles to Youths in Sokoto

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto  In a bid to empower youths...

SGF Meets Tor Tiv, Och’Idoma, Elders for Lasting Peace in Benue

Wilfred Francis The Secretary to the Government of the Federation...

Gov Ododo Lauds Ekinrin-Adde Community Over Infrastructure fund Raising

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed...

Gov. During approves automatic employment for UAT first class graduates

Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has...

Gov Sani condemns killing of 12 Kaduna citizens in plateau LG, demands justice 

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna  Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State...

APC plans takeover of Rivers, Bayelsa as Tinubu backs Gov Eno

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo .. The All Progressive Congress, APC,...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img