Nigeria Air will have no government control – Aviation Minister

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said that Nigeria Air Limited, the country’s proposed national carrier, will run smoothly without undue interference by government.

The minister made this known at the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai.

He said: “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in the continent, 30.4 million square kilometres and very green land,”

“If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle; 200 million people and a rising middle class, the propensity to fly is high.”

“Nigeria is a candidate for national carrier.”

He reiterated that “The airline would be private, yes. Five per cent government and no government stepping right in that company, no government control, no membership of government on board. Totally private and committed.”

While commending the Muhammadu Buhari led government, Sirika said the government has always kept to its promises, hence the reason many successful airliners “jostle for multiple frequencies and multiple landing points in Nigeria”.

He said “Whatever we say we will do as a government since 2015, it has happened,”

“That is why, Emirates, Qatar Airways and all of them are looking to go into Nigeria at multiple frequencies and multiple landing points because Nigeria is the right place for the airline business.”