Nigeria Air launch ‘a fraud’ – NASS, as Reps demand prosecution of Sirika, others

Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation have labeled last Friday, May 26, launch of the national carrier, Nigeria Air by ex-Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, as ‘fraudulent.’

The reaction followed public outcry which trailed the dubious launch of the Nigeria Air project, as the National Assembly (NASS) intervened through its various committees on Aviation which visited the Ministry of Aviation over the last-minute action of the ex-minister, Hadi Sirika.

Speaking during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Emmanuel Meribole, the Interim Managing Director, Nigeria Air, Capt Dapo Olumide, and heads of aviation agencies, Tuesday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Biodun Olujimi, expressed disbelief as to why the former Aviation minister tried to launch the national carrier ‘on the last work day of the Buhari administration.’

According to Senator Olujimi, ‘the aircraft used during the unveiling was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines and after the unveiling, the owners went back with their aircraft.’

Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, described the launch of Nigeria Air as ‘a fraud.’

Rep Nnaji explained that after meeting stakeholders in the aviation sector, ‘they largely denied knowledge of the launch.’

However, the Ministry of Aviation has clarified that what took place on Friday, may 26 was not a launch as claimed by the ex-minister, Sirika, but ‘an unveiling’ of Nigeria Air.

According to Capt Dapo Olumide, ‘Nigeria Air was unveiled at the time it was to prove to Nigerians that the project was not a fluke.’

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has announced reaching a resolution on activities and actions of the past Minister, Hadi Sirika in proceeding with the launch of the Nigeria Air project ‘despite a standing Court injunction against such, and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.’

“We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airline in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our 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 commonwealths.

“Consequently, the Committee hereby resolves to:

“1. Direct the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flights operations and every other actions with respect to the Nigeria Air;

“2. Urge our new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President and C-in-C, to as a matter of urgency constitute a high-level Presidential Committee to undertake a holistic Review of the Processes of the whole Nigeria Air project, and advice the government on the way forward.

“3. Ensure that all individuals, or groups, or organization involved in the controversial shenanigan named “Nigeria Air Take-Off” are brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned,” the Reps’ resolutions read.

Oracle Today recalls that, Friday, May 26, Sirika after gathering notable dignitaries in Abuja for the inauguration of the national carrier, told the crowd: “Nigeria Air Limited has come to stay and, is a Public Private Partnership between Nigeria and Ethiopian Airlines which we hope will restore the glory of the Aviation Industry to meet international standards.

“Right now processes have commenced for the aircraft to start Operation domestically as time goes on, we are expecting thirty-five aircraft more in the next five years to operate all over the world as Nigeria Air Limited,“ Sirika explained, adding that 30 aircraft are expected to form the fleet of Nigeria Air in the next five years. However, only one aircraft has arrived. And that one was not even a Nigeria Air aircraft but an Ethiopian Airline registered plane.