AviationBusinessTrending Story

Nigeria Air to commence flights before May 29, says Sirika

389

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, will fly before May 29, 2023.

Sirika, who made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during the 10th Aviation stakeholders forum, said the project was 98 percent completed.

The minister said: “Negotiation meeting with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria ongoing.

“Next step is the Federal Executive Council‘s approval of the Full Business Case.

“Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly.”

According to the minister, the national carrier will reduce capital flight from Nigeria, maximize the benefits of BASA and SAATM, and develop an aviation hub.

He added that the national carrier will also facilitate growth and development of the Nigerian Agricultural Sector, contribute to the GDP, facilitate hospitality and tourism, and create jobs around the Agro-Cargo Terminals.

Persecondnews reports that there has been a lot of controversies surrounding the establishment of the Nigeria Air.

According to Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the decision of the government to allow Ethiopian Airlines to own 49 per cent of the stake in the company poses “existential threats” to the local airline operators.

AON instituted a legal suit against the federal government on November 19, 2022, asking for clarification on the processes, extant law and interpretation, level playing field for all operators and the modus operandi of the national carrier.

Among the controversial issues raised by AON in its suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, was the alleged granting of 15 years tax moratorium to Ethiopian Airlines by the Federal Government in the airline’s commercial and strategic plan.

The document states that no formal analysis had been carried out on the airline’s tax position, adding that for the purpose of this document it assumed that there were no withholding taxes on interest payments, insurance premiums and dividends to shareholders.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

SanDisk extreme portable SSD: A must-have for Nigerian remote workers, freelancers

Julius Babarinde As the Nigerian work environment continues to evolve, remote work...

Media capacity-building: Polaris Bank trains 5,000 Nigerian journalists in 10 years

As part of its media capacity-building initiative, Polaris Bank Limited, Nigeria’s leading...

FG approves international airport for Kogi

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has approved Kogi State...

Nigeria to issue diaspora bond in US, targets $1bln monthly remittances

Nigeria is planning to issue a diaspora bond in the United States...

Port Harcourt chopper crash: NSIB recovers two more bodies from site

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the recovery of two...

System upgrade: FirstBank enhances supplier’s platform, guarantees uninterrupted, seamless services

FirstBank has reacted to a misleading report circulating in the media regarding...

Commonwealth summit: Broken aircraft windscreen aborts Shettima’s trip

Following the damage to the cockpit windscreen of his plane at JFK...

Reps to CBN: Withdraw old naira notes before December 31 deadline

The House of Representatives has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria...

Port Harcourt chopper crash: Three bodies recovered

A helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has claimed the lives...

Keyamo in Geneva, calls for WMO’s collaboration for improved meteorology

Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has,...

US-Nigeria trade relationship hits $10bln mark

The United States and Nigeria have achieved a remarkable milestone in their...

NNPC Retail Sensitizes Auto Mechanics on CNG Adoption, Unveils Oleum Lubricant Range

NNPC Retail Limited, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, has taken a significant...

Nigeria’s aviation sector gets major lift as FG unveils 150m-litre jet A1 fuel depot

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has...

Aliko Dangote’s wealth soars to $28bln as his oil refinery comes on stream

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has seen his wealth more than double...

Patronize Nigerian caterers as from January 2025, Aviation Minister tells foreign airlines

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has...

Naira Defies Global Trends, Appreciates 5.7% Against Dollar

The Nigerian naira staged a surprising comeback on Monday, appreciating 5.7 percent...

US bank fraud, money laundering allegations: Air Peace’s management reaffirms CEO’s innocence

Air Peace’s management has reaffirmed that its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen...

CEO of Air Peace, airlines’ finance officer indicted for $44.9m fraud, obstruction of justice in U.S.

Allen Onyema, the Chairman/CEO and founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline,...

Airlines pilot dies mid-flight, co-pilot flies plane to safety

A Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing in New York early...