THE Nigerian Ministry of Aviation has said local and international flights will commence on the proposed national airlines, Nigeria Air, before May 29.
Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika disclosed this on Thursday, March 23, during the ongoing 2023 National Aviation Stakeholders Forum.
“Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly,” Sirika said.
The minister noted that the national carrier would contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and also improve tourism and hospitality in the country.
He added that the airline would develop the agricultural sector and create jobs along the agro-cargo terminals.
According to him, negotiations between the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Nigerian government were ongoing over the commencement of the airline’s operations.
Sirika had said in February that flights on the national carrier would commence immediately the issuance of the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) was concluded by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The Federal Government has faced criticism over the relevance and sustainability of a new national airline following the failure of the previous carrier as a result of corruption and mismanagement.
Some local airlines in the country have also sued the Federal Government over the establishment of the national carrier, arguing that it would enjoy unfair advantages within the aviation sector
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.