By John Ikani
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the establishment of a National Carrier for Nigeria – Nigeria Air – is at 91 per cent completion, and is expected to commence flight operations by December.
The President disclosed this on Monday at the third ministerial performance review retreat in Abuja.
According to him, the certification of Lagos and Abuja international airports by the International Civil Aviation Organization, while Kano and Port Harcourt Airports are undergoing similar certification processes have given the project a boost.
Recall that Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, had said the country’s proposed national carrier would take off by April 2022, but it missed the deadline.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) consortium was recently selected as the preferred bidder for Nigeria Air, after scoring 89 percent out of 100 in the technical bidding process and 15 out of 20 as regards financial bids.
The airline is to own 49 per cent of the national carrier.
Giving details of the deal in September, Mr Siriki had said: “The Nigerian investors are MRS, SAHCO and the Nigerian Sovereign Fund (46 per cent), FGN owning 5 per cent and ET 49 per cent.”
The minister reported that the federal government had spent less than the budgeted amount for the project. He also said that Ethiopian Airlines won the bid for the airline as it met the bidding evaluation criteria and the deadline.
Nigeria Air will be launched with three Boeing 737-800 in a configuration very suitable for the Nigerian market. It was also revealed that the airline would be owned by a Nigerian private investor consortium.
The airline has already begun its recruitment process for captains and crew members. According to the Aviation Minister, Nigeria Air would have an initial capital of $300 million and 30 aircraft within four years.
Nigeria Air will not be the first indigenous airline owned by Ethiopian Airlines in Africa. Ethiopia also has shares in airlines in other countries, including owning 45 per cent of Zambia Airways, 49 per cent of Guinea Airways, 100 per cent of Ethiopia-Mozambique Airlines, 49 per cent of Chad Airlines and 49 per cent of Air Malawi.
