See The Airline To Commence Operations Soon In Nigeria

The minister of aviation, Hadi Siriki, has announced the commencement of Nigeria’s proposed National Carrier in December, 2022.

Hadi made the announcement in Abuja during a meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Aviation, with all Stakeholders in the airline industry.

He said, “The government has done extremely well for the local airlines and we have said any of them cannot be a national carrier.

“We have met severally with the airline operators and pleaded with them to invest in the project. This is because the Federal Government would have a minimum shareholding in it.

“The intent is not to kill any business. The intent is to help to promote all businesses to be able to provide the needed service and employ our people.

“Also, if everyone of them is doing very well without any favouritism, then it means that the competition will be healthy and will bring down the price of tickets and increase the propensity to fly and make more people to fly and then make more money for the airlines and give more service to the country Nigeria.

On her part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Biodun Olujunmi, who earlier acknowledged the importance of the meeting, urged the minister to give clearance on the concerns raised by members of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria.

She said, “Some Nigerians had invested their hard-earned funds in Aviation and they felt that they would lose out completely if the Nigerian Government decided to partner the Ethiopian Airlines with mouth-watering incentives,” she said.

On his part, the Vice-President, Airline Operators of Nigeria and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, alleged that the entrance of Ethiopian Airline is to the detriment of local operators.

He urged the Federal Government to give attention to local Airlines who are equipped to fly international routes.

“Already, Ethiopian Airlines is asking for a 15 – year tax holiday when no Nigerian carrier has been given one year tax holiday.

“We could do better than what we are doing if we have such an incentive.

“There are multiplicity of taxes and levies we are battling with in the industry that is crippling our operations and forcing the air fare to be skyrocketing on daily basis.

“We do not want the partnership to be known as National Carrier because it connotes ownership.

“A strategic partner cannot be a competitor on the continent. Domestic airlines should be allowed to grow to develop,” he said.