Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, says the embargo placed on Nigeria Air, the national carrier, will be lifted as soon as possible.
File photo
While speaking when he received the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Fahad Al Taffaq, in his office in Abuja, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said all hope was not lost on the establishment of the national carrier, ‘Nigeria Air’.
Recall that the national carrier which was unveiled on July 18, 2018, at the Farnborough Air Show in London, was aimed at bringing “Nigeria closer to the world” but
operation was suspended after a month with no substantive reason for the call off.
“I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured,” Sirika had said in September.
However, the minister while hosting UAE Ambassador, has now assured Nigerians that hope was still alive in sustaining and establishing the vision of the ‘Nigeria Air’ national carrier.
“The suspended national carrier would be activated as soon as possible, although the December 24th earlier given for its take-off is no longer feasible,” Sirika said, adding that the suspension was only in the interim and that a new pronouncement would soon be made on the project.
According to the minister, it is inconceivable that Nigeria, with its population of over 180 million people, would not be a major player in the aviation industry.
He noted that the country’s geographical location has made it a natural hub for air transportation and ancillary businesses.