The House of Representatives has mandated its Aviation Committee to call upon the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for a comprehensive briefing on the status of the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, at the time of his exit from office.
This decision stems from the adoption of a motion presented by Tarkighir Dickson during Thursday’s plenary session, as gathered
Dickson underscored that in 2016, the ex-minister outlined an aviation roadmap, designating the national carrier as the flagship project, with a commitment to completing it by the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Notably, Sirika engaged Ethiopian Airlines shortly before the handover to provide an aircraft for Nigerians under the Nigeria Air brand.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority issued an Air Transport License to Nigeria Air during this period.
Despite substantial financial investments in the project during the previous administration, Dickson raised concerns over the current ambiguity surrounding the national carrier’s status.
He expressed apprehensions about potential accountability issues and the project evolving into a recurring expenditure item in the federal budget.
In response to the motion, the House has directed the committee to extend invitations to both Hadi Sirika and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to provide comprehensive insights into the Nigeria Air project and its certification.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, took the initiative in September to suspend both the Nigeria Air project and the planned concessions for specific airports.
