>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved the leasing of three aircraft for the commencement of operations for the country’s national carrier, NigeriaAir.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting president over the President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Sirika noted that the airline would begin with three aircraft made by Airbus and Boeing, running domestic routes only.
He added that the airline would expand into regional and intercontinental routes.
The Minister, however, declined to state the actual date operations would commence, saying “we will announce commencement soon.”
Sirika also noted that Nigerians who are willing to own part of the 51 per cent share available for indigenous investors are “welcomed to participate.”
Since the unveiling of the national carrier at the Farnborough Air Show in England, in July 2018, Nigeria Air has been mired in controversies that led to its suspension in September 2018; barely two months after its proposal.
The Federal Government has described the suspension as a “tough decision.”