The Minister of Aviation for the umpteenth time, made a volte face concerning the equity ownership of the yet to materialized Nigeria Air, thereby continuing to send wrong and confusing signals to Nigerians.
WHAT WE KNOW
The Nigerian Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, again made a U-turn concerning the imaginary national carrier project Nigeria Air. Sirika had on Friday said the yet to be actualized project was partly owned by Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Special Assistant (Public Affairs), to the minister, James Odaudu, in a statement on Saturday, said the Aviation minister have said the NSIA is not involved in the Nigeria carrier bidding process.
NOTABLE QUOTES
In the statement on Saturday, James Odaudu the Special Assistant to the Aviation minister Hadi Sirika stated:
“We wish to clarify that the Authority (NSIA) is not involved, in any way, as part of the private equity ownership of the airline, being a government establishment,”
“It should be noted that the NSIA was not mentioned in the Honourable Minister’s presentation, but only in the general brief given to the media, an error made during its preparation,”
“The public, especially the business community and the media should please take note,”
BACKGROUND
In July 2018, precisely on the 18th, the Federal Government spent tax payers money at the far away Farnborough Air show in England to unveil/launch the logo of a proposed national carrier “Nigeria Air”.
Four years after that event that has been criticized as a wasteful launch, not a single flight has happened in the name of the so called Nigerian Air or any firm in partnership with it.
Rather two months after that launch, the whole project was suspended, as many raised questions over it sustainability.
The proposed airline was expected to consume $8.8million of tax payers fund and another $300 million as takeoff cost.
In July of 2022, the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft for the airline to kick off on a date to be announced by the government.
On Friday the minister made the latest announcement concerning ownership, only to make a U-turn in 24 hours or less.
COMMENTARY
The so called promise by President Buhari to established a national carrier to replace the collapsed Nigeria airways have proven to be nothing but a national “April fool” from the seat of power.
This is a joke taken too far. From the launch of a logo when the firm was not ready to kick off to telling Nigerians the Friday statement concerning part ownership is an error, all speak of a government thriving in confusion and triviality on major issues.
To think that tax payers money was spent to engage foreign firm paid in hard currency to design a logo for a company that has promised not to see the light of the day not only leaves a sour taste in the mouth, but speak of the corruption and poor performance that has characterised a government that promised change.
It staggers the imagination of any reasonable man how the Minister of Aviation is able to travel by air, without wondering what happened to his imaginary airline and the fund thus far spent.
To think that the Buhari government continues to retain ministers as Hadi Sirika in his cabinet is a proof of the disdain to which he holds his pre 2015 promises to Nigerians.
We only hope Nigerians are taking note of these failures as they make decisions on what to do at the poll come February 2023.
