By Ese Awhotu with agency repor
The Federal Government has unveiled the nation’s national carrier as Nigeria Air to be private sector driven.
The Nigerian government would own only five percent shares in the new national carrier, according to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Sirika dropped this hint yesterday while unveiling the name of Nigeria’s national carrier, as well as the logo at the Farnborough International Airshow in London.
Sirika said the national carrier is Nigeria Air.
The minister said, “this will be a National Carrier that is Private sector-led and driven. It is a business, not a social service.
Government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it.
The investors will have full responsibility for this.”
“The Nigerian Government will not own more than 5% (maximum) of the new National Carrier. Government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it.”
He said the Nigerian government is currently in talks with aircraft providers regarding the takeoff of Nigeria Air.
Sirika said, “We are currently negotiating. We’ve been talking to Airbus and Boeing (and they’re present at this event) regarding the aircraft for and we will be making announcements very soon.
Recall that, the presidency had said that a new airline would begin operations in 2018 with its maiden name to be announced at the fair.
Sirika in a statement in Abuja earlier this month, expressed satisfaction with the way the Transaction Advisers had carried out their assignments with utmost diligence and timeliness.
He assured that the National Carrier that would be delivered would be world class in operation and management.
The minister disclosed that the proposed airline will gulp $8.8 million as preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.
The project would be executed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
According to Sirika, Nigeria would receive the first set of five airplanes for the airliner on December 19.
The airline would make profit in three years after operations, he said.
“We will make the investments and follow the business plan through private sector management. We intend to get a 30 aircraft market in five years. But we will begin with five aircraft on the day of launch,” he said. The minister also gave an assurance that the national carrier would not kill the domestic airlines operating in the country.
