AVIATION: Nigerian government has announced the long awaited national carrier is set to commence operation at last, but without a single aircraft owned by the national carrier – Nigerian Air.
Instead, the federal government has concluded plans for the leasing of three planes for the commencement of the business of the Nigerian national carrier.
This was disclosed less than Seven months to the 2023 election, by the Minister of Aviation, Hadin Sirika to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, after the conclusion of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The Minister confirmed that the Nigerian Air will soon commence operations with three leased airplanes.
The Minister who did not give a date for the commencement of operations, told reporters that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has given a go ahead for the airline to start operations with three leased airplanes.
He also told the media that FEC approved the use of investigation tool by the Accident Investigation Bureau.
According to Hadi Sirika, the tool will enable the Accident Investigation Bureau to decode what is happening in a flight. And such information would aid investigation in the event of an accident.
Takeaway:
Clariform recalls that in July 2018, the Minister launched the name and logo of the proposed airline in faraway Farnborough UK.
The launch of the logo without the airline commencing operations drew condemnation from Nigerians who saw the act as a deception to achieve political points prior to the 2019 elections.
Clariform notes that the announcement of this planned commencement of operation is once again coming on the hills of yet another national election in which the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is struggling to find campaign talking points.
Reported by Chukwu C. Ikechukwu. Edited by Ken Obi for Clariform.
