Fakoyejo Olalekan
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, will lease three aircraft for the commencement of the airline’s operation.
Sirika stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the lease of aircraft during the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe told the press that the airline operation is scheduled to start local first, before extending its service to regional and international routes. Although, the government is yet to state the kickoff date.
“I presented two memoranda on the national carrier to allow Nigeria to lease aircraft to start operations. That has been approved by the council.” Sirika said.
The minister stated that, “On how many aircraft, I have said in our business plan, in the outline business case which is approved which are presented right here in this hall, I said that we are starting with three aircraft, for the first instance, to do the runs and then we progress. As to the make and type, we will be having eventually a mix of the two, the Air Buses and the Boeings.
“Because every airline that to grow big is either or, most of them are either Air Bus or they are Boeing, especially for the Intercontinental and international flights. And this will start as a domestic airline. And then it will of course grow to become regional and international also intercontinental. On the timeline, is a process we’re progressing. We will announce the commencement date soon.
“On how they’re going to pull this through with the hiccups the aviation is facing, well certainly it is a global phenomenon. If you, of course, I’m very sure you are abreast with the going on around the aviation industry.
“But suddenly it’s not here forever. Aviation is a very resilient activity. From time before, it always takes a dip and then comes back up. We saw it in 9/11, we saw it in the south, we saw it in the global meltdown. We saw it in Pearl Harbor, and so on and so forth. So aviation is very resilient. And I think we’ll get out of the problems we are facing. Of particular reference, yesterday all of you were present when we discussed with The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) the challenges we’re facing in terms of Jet A1 availability and of course pricing, which is 40% of the operations of the airline.
“We’re finding solutions to those problems and the cost of funds also is being attended to and so on and so forth. So yes, we will get there. And it’s doable and by God’s grace”
Government to spend N707.9 million on investigation tools
Sirika disclosed that the Federal Government will procure unnamed investigation tools to help the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to decode going ons in flights following an accident or incident.
The tool will cost N707.9 million ac ordinarily to the minister, “That tool, will permit the accident investigation to be able to decode going ons in flights, and God forbid, should there be a need to investigate the accident or incident, the tool will help them to be able to do so.
“That procurement is in sum of 1,506,285.7 euros which is equivalent to N707,962,864.83. This will be including taxes at a central bank exchange rate of 472 in Euro with the delivery period of 11 months and is awarded to Messers Integrated Contract Services Limited for AIB.” He said.
