Nigeria Air, the supposed national carrier of Nigeria, was launched on May 26, 2023 by the former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, amid controversies and criticisms. However, the launch was soon exposed as a fraud by the House of Representatives and aviation stakeholders, who demanded a probe into the project and its suspension.
The Launch of Nigeria Air
Sirika unveiled an aircraft branded with Nigeria Air logo and colours at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, claiming that it was the first of the 30 aircraft that would make up the national carrier. He said that the airline would commence operations in December 2023 and would fly to 81 domestic, regional and international destinations.
However, many Nigerians were skeptical about the launch, questioning the ownership, specification, documentation and technical agreement of the airline. Some also wondered why the launch was done without any prior notice or publicity.
The Fraudulent Nature of Nigeria Air
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, led by Nnolim Nnaji, summoned the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Emmanuel Meribole, and other relevant stakeholders to appear before it on June 6, 2023 to explain the details of the project.
At the meeting, the committee discovered that the launch of Nigeria Air was nothing but a fraud perpetrated by Sirika and his cronies. The committee said that the aircraft displayed by Sirika was actually a Boeing 737 MAX owned by Ethiopian Airlines and covered with Nigeria Air sticker. The committee also learned that the aircraft was on a chartered flight and had no connection with Nigeria Air.
The committee also found out that Sirika had no approval from the Federal Executive Council or the National Assembly to launch Nigeria Air. The committee also said that Sirika had violated a court injunction that restrained him from launching Nigeria Air without due process.
The committee described the launch as "highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community". The committee also said that it would not allow any individual or group to siphon Nigeria's commonwealth through the project.
Call to action
The committee therefore resolved to direct the Ministry of Aviation and its partners to suspend all activities related to Nigeria Air and urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute a high-level presidential committee to review the whole process and advise the government on the way forward.
The committee also called for the arrest and prosecution of Sirika and his accomplices for defrauding Nigerians and wasting public funds.
The committee's position was supported by aviation experts and observers, who also condemned Sirika for his dishonesty and incompetence. They said that Sirika had not only humiliated Nigerians but also degraded himself by his shoddy and unpatriotic actions. They demanded that Sirika should account for how he spent the billions of naira he received for the project.
The Future of Nigeria Air
The fate of Nigeria Air remains uncertain as Nigerians await the outcome of the presidential committee's review and investigation. Many Nigerians have expressed their disappointment and frustration over the failed project, which they had hoped would revive the aviation sector and boost national pride.
Some Nigerians have also suggested that instead of pursuing a national carrier, the government should focus on improving the existing airlines and infrastructure in the country. They said that Nigeria does not need a national carrier to be competitive in the global aviation market.
However, some Nigerians have also expressed their optimism that Nigeria Air can still become a reality if handled properly and transparently. They said that Nigeria has the potential and resources to establish a viable and profitable national carrier that can serve its people and contribute to its development.