Hadi Sirika.webp​

The Digest:

The project to establish a national carrier, Nigeria Air, was rooted in the storm of controversy from the start. In a recent interview, former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has now pinned the blame for the venture's failure on domestic operators, accusing them of using legal action to scuttle a project he claims was transparent and well-structured.

Key Points:
  • Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika blames domestic airlines for the failure of Nigeria Air.
  • He claimed that Air Peace, United, and Azman Airlines went to court to stop the project.
  • Sirika argued the public-private partnership with Ethiopian Airlines was transparent.
  • He accused the airlines of hindering the project over a "limited" 5% stake for Nigeria.
  • The former minister revealed that only N2 billion was spent on the project.
  • He stated that without the court case, Nigeria Air would be operational today.
  • Sirika questioned why the incoming government did not pursue the court case.
Sirika's comments expose a deep-seated tension between the government's vision and the interests of private operators. His statement suggests that the project’s failure was less about a lack of transparency and more about an unseen facade of corporate rivalry, putting the nation's progress to the test.

Sources: Channels Television