Federal government of Nigeria says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the controversial Nigeria Air deal.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Nigeria Air deal was sealed by the immediate former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on behalf of the Nigerian government.
On May 26, 2023, a plane belonging to Nigeria Air, the proposed national carrier, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Sirika had told Nigerians that the aircraft belonged to Nigeria Air, adding that the airline would arrive in the country on Friday ahead of the commencement of operations.
However, on August 31, 2023, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension of Nigeria Air, adding that the projects would be put on hold until further notice.
Keyamo said this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The Minister said, “First of all, I have said it before and I will still say it. It was not a deal that was good for Nigeria in the long run.
“The whole composition and totality of that deal was merely Ethiopian Air flying the Nigerian flag. It was not a national carrier. Two things. A flag carrier is different from a national carrier.
“So while we were being told that a national carrier was coming, it was not a national carrier, it was a foreign airline trying to fly the Nigerian flag.
“The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
He insisted that no local airline would be designated as a national airline, noting that “we will establish a proper national carrier.”
