With less than 10 days remaining in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,
National carrier launch uncertainty amidst President’s term conclusion.
Despite repeated assurances from the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that the airline
would take flight before May 29, concerns persist.
Sirika had previously guaranteed that the ongoing court case between the Airline
Operators of Nigeria and Nigeria Air would not hinder the airline’s launch within the
given timeframe. However, when questioned by aviation reporters in Lagos during the
commissioning of a N2.2 billion expansion of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT),
Sirika declined to comment on the national carrier’s status.
“I don’t want to comment on Nigeria Air and whether or not it would take off before May 29. I came here to commission projects, and that is what I am focused on,” he stated.
During the commissioning ceremony, the minister emphasized that the terminal
expansion project aimed to address the long-standing issue of limited capacity.
The rapid population growth in Nigeria has resulted in an overwhelming number of
passengers, surpassing the terminal’s available facilities and it is heartbreaking that National carrier launch uncertainty amidst President’s term conclusion
“While we have developed the Zulu terminal as a complement to the existing old
terminal, the capacity limitation still persists,” Sirika explained. “
To alleviate this challenge, we decided to expand the terminal as a short-term solution.
Our intention is to construct a new and larger domestic terminal in the near future.”
The newly commissioned facility represents the first phase of the project, including
protocol lounges, airline office spaces, and VIP lounges.
These additions aim to enhance passenger safety, security, and comfort. The minister
expressed hope that the incoming administration would continue with the construction of
the second phase.
As the current administration’s term concludes, the fate of the national carrier remains
uncertain, leaving the aviation industry and stakeholders awaiting further developments.
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