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FG moves to revive national carrier

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In spite of failed past efforts to set up and maintain a national carrier after the demise of the Nigeria Airways established in 1971, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated steps to ensure the dream is made reality.

Indication in that direction emerged as the committee that was charged with working out modalities to restore the national airline has submitted its report to the Ministry of Aviation.

Chairman of the committee, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed, at the submission, said that the committee had wide consultations and received a number of memoranda in the course of its sittings.

He said, “the creation of the committee on the establishment of a national carrier has generated a lot of excitement and comments both in the print and electronic media as well as in social media networks since its inauguration.

“It was therefore not surprising that we received a lot of memoranda from interested stakeholders within and outside the country.

“We consulted with a total of 74 stakeholders, ranging from airline operators to aviation agencies, service providers, financial consultants, institutional investors, aircrafts and parts suppliers and former staff of Nigeria Airways Limited.”

Mohammed noted that the committee has given what he described as far reaching recommendations, which if accepted and implemented by the Federal Government will have positive impact on the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Read also: Special Report… Nigeria Airways: A history of epilepsy and lessons for Buhari

Receiving the report, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello, explained that the inauguration of the committee was based on a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, to advise government on appropriate modalities for the establishment of a national carrier.

She declined to give a timeline within which the proposal will be implemented arguing that, “the report has just been submitted to me and I have not even opened it.

“Until I open the report and see the recommendations, I cannot say exactly what we are going to come up with.”

The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on August 25 and given four weeks to complete its assignment.

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