Amaechi opens up on collapsed Nigeria Air, links failure to divisions in FEC
Instances of opposing beliefs amongst members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been exposed as the key factor that lead to the sudden death of the planned floatation of Nigeria Air.
Recall that Nigeria Air was mid last year promoted by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to the extent he went to London Air Show and launched the airline but without any input from Nigerian industry stakeholders’.
In his terse explanation then on how the airline will be funded and run, Sirika noted that government will set out about $300m for the takeoff while arrangements will soon be concluded with any of the leading global aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Air Bus to fleet the scheme.
However, shortly after Sirika’s return from London Air Show, the Minister of Information bungled and spilled the beans saying, government can no longer go ahead with the new national carrier because majority of international investors who had indicated interest had suddenly developed cold feet.
But giving a clearer picture, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi averred in his valedictory world press conference that the key factor that collapsed the scheme was inability of all members of the FEC to speak with one voice on the Nigeria Air issue.
According to him, there were serious official divisions on the exact funding and operating modalities for the coming on stream of the proposed national carrier called Nigeria Air, a revelation the Minister of State for Aviation never opened up to Nigerians till yesterday.
However, while insisting that the national carrier issue has not been closed or totally abandoned after all, he quick to state reveal that “There are Exco members who believe that the Federal Government should invest and then we can sell the equity later”.
“There are also those who believe that no, and from day one they say let us get investors in and give them the franchise of Nigeria Airways or Air Nigeria or whatever is called. That is where we are and that is what held it down. But as for whether it is still in our plan, it is and has not been abandoned.”
On the jumping loan request for railway, Amaechi disclosed that Chinese funding partners have advised the government to set up a sinking fund and escrow account so as to deepen assurance on loan repayment and seamless delivery of rail infrastructure especially on the Abuja-Kaduna scheme.
