The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved April 2022 as the official date for the commencement of the operations of much-awaited Nigeria Air.
The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed this when he along with Ministers of Transportation, and Finance, Budget and National Planning, Rotimi Amaechi and Dr Zainab Ahmed, respectively, briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting.
The meeting was presided by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to Sirika, the majority of shares of 49 percent of the Nigeria Air project will be owned by strategic equity partners, 46 percent by Nigerians while the Federal Government will own five percent of the shares.
The minister revealed that Nigeria Air, when operational, would generate over 70,000 jobs, saying “these 70,000 jobs, they are higher than the total number of civil servants that we have in the country’’.
“The contract was awarded at N6,347,967,644.21, inclusive of 7.5% VAT for a period of two years. It’s also important to say that the cabinet was briefed that there’s a huge improvement in the security on our waterways now and we hope that it will continue as we progress.”
Sindy Foster, an aviation analyst and Managing Partner for Avaero Capitals said the April 2022 target for the take-off of national carrier is not realistic.
According to her, the government would be rushing the process by setting the April 2022 target.
In a chat with Daily Trust, she wondered how the project is achievable without any aircraft on the ground.
She said, “Honestly, anything is possible. But something’s are more unlikely than others.
“Given where we are today, with the apparent lack of progress and no strategic technical partner assigned five months before the “launch”, I would say this is not achievable.
“But to say it will “take off” by that date is a bit vague. Will we see aircraft airborne by that date or do they mean something else? We saw a launch of a logo at an airshow where people were placing orders.
“Chances are they will hack it together, so they can hit the date target. Whether it will be a success is another matter. If feels a bit rushed given where we are today.”
Another aviation stakeholder who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said while it is desirable to have a national carrier, the April 2022 target may not be feasible.
“Have you asked the Minister whether they have done demonstration flights. Has the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) been issued? These are the critical questions you should ask the Minister,” the source said pleading anonymity.
Daily Trust
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