By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has assured that despite the litany of hurdles, the national carrier Nigeria Air will be launched at a date not later than May 29, a date the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to bow out after two terms of four years each allowed in the constitution.
The minister accused the local airlines of imposing legal bottlenecks to ensure the national carrier does not take to the sky, expressing displeasure that the Buhari-led federal government had offered support to the local airlines more than any other, a gesture he believes are not being reciprocated.
Sirika at National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023, on Thursday said the Federal Government is taking necessary measures to overcome the hurdles introduced by the indigenous airlines who sought court injunctions to halt the process.
He accused them of constituting a stumbling block to the actualisation of the national carrier which will impact new jobs and better opportunities in the industry.
He listed among other benefits, capacity to create jobs if Nigeria Air finally comes on board before the president bows out of office.
He said 50 pilots had come to him complaining about their unemployment status, adding that the national carrier should be able to employ more pilots and create other job opportunities.
He said the Nigerian Aviation industry is the only one in the world where qualified pilots are without jobs.
He said Ethiopian Airlines, the offered bidder for the national carrier is highly competent, and profitable enough to add value to the Nigerian aviation sector.
