…aircraft chartered from Ethiopian airline…capt. Olumide
.…highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy..Nnaji
…Nigerians thoroughly decieved…..Olujimi ….Meribole insists unveiling followed due process
The bubble surrounding the unveiling of the Ethiopian airline aircraft branded Nigeria Air has bust with the recent inquiry into the project and aircraft showcased on Friday May 26, 2023 at the Abuja airport by the National Assembly Committees on Aviation.
The question surrounding the aircraft has been out to rest as the interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide has explained that, the Nigeria Air aircraft unveiled was a chartered aircraft from Ethiopian airline, the strategic investor of the proposed national carrier.
He also explained that, the unveiling was to demonstrate to Nigerians that the airline is not a fluke.
The immediate past Minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika had repeated and vowed that the airline would be launched before May 29th inauguration.
In its quest to unravel the miseries surrounding the Nigeria Air project, the National Assembly Committees on Aviation summoned an emergency meeting inviting the permanent Secretary Ministry of Aviation, individuals and partners involved in the project.
After hearing all sides on the Nigeria Air, the Committees pronounced the Nigeria Air project and the aircraft unveiling a fraud and a national embarrassment.
The Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Mr Nnoli Nnaji wants the ministry of aviation to ensure that all individuals, groups or organizations involved in the Nigeria Air Take-Off brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned.
He frown on the aircraft unveiling despite an existing court order restraining such action and expressed dismay by the role played by Ethiopian Airline in the process, saying it does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between the two nations.
“A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof”.
“While the Committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation. However, such a process should be transparent and all embracing. We as a Committee would not accept any attempt by any individual or group of individuals or organization to hide under the project and siphon our commonwealth”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, stated that Nigeria Air was not launched but unveiled, insisting the Ministry followed due processes in the unveiling.
He however reminded the meeting that, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON is in court on the project and that the matter should not be discussed further.
Also in a meeting, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who expressed shock at the rush to birth the national carrier when the airline was yet to get a licence to fly said, Nigerians have been thoroughly deceived and the action of the promoters fraudulent.
