Nigeria Air suspension: Sirika may skip logo contract in planned stakeholders address
The spate of criticisms trailing the recent suspension of actualization of Nigeria Air and observed ministerial differences between the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Minister of State for Aviation, the latter, Capt Hadi Sirika has given notice of addressing aviation stakeholders to keep his record straight after all.
Business Hilights recalls that this will be the first time government will be discussing Nigeria Air with industry stakeholders, a development analysts had faulted during the period the minister was keeping every plan of the scheme to his chest before the bobble got burst.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr. James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Sirika noted that it has become pertinent to address aviation stakeholders and the general public on issues relating to the recent suspension of the national carrier project.
No doubt, since the suspension, there had been barrage of questions begging for answers including whether the logo design by a Bahraini firm, Form6 Communications were approved by relevant agencies with recourse to Executive Order 003 which stands for promoting local content in every government contract jobs. The contract for the design of the green-white-green logo was $600,000 paid already without any form of checks on chances of local design.
Besides, several analysts who have seen the logo argued that a better logo can be designed here in Nigeria at a lesser amount without the capital flight by a government that is preaching local content with an Executive Order.
Another issue of contention was the conflicting reasons for the suspension by both ministers. It would be recalled that whereas Lai Mohammed had in Lagos made it clear that government suspended the project because all the investors who had earlier indicated interest are no more forthcoming; Sirika countered him, saying the investors are still intact even though the project has to be suspended for now.
Accordingly, the statement stressed that “It has become necessary to address some of the issues, misinformation, allegations and opinions trending in the media in order to keep the public well informed on the status of the proposed national carrier prior to the suspension”.
“It is in the light of this that the minister has decided to invite aviation stakeholders and members of the public to a Stakeholders Forum in Abuja on October 23.
“The interactive forum will, as usual, enable the ministry, stakeholders and interested members of the public to adequately address all issues associated with the national carrier project.
“This will involve airline operators, regulators in the aviation sector, prospective investors, the media practitioners, labour unions.
“Also, aviation service providers, officials from the ministry of transportation and its agencies, as well as interested members of the public,’’ he said.
However, no date or venue had been fixed for the meeting as at the time of filing this report.
