info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
photo from Internet
The national airline of Nigeria would be revealed to the public before the end of the year.The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has confirmed this news.
The minister said that the presentation of the certificate was a testament on how far the project had gone.The proposed airline will gulp $8.8 million preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.
The Nigerian government is not fully funding the airline as it has adopted midwifing it via the option of a Public Private partnership, to deliver a national carrier that would stand the test of time and be world class in operation and management, he said.
According to Mr Sirika, Nigeria will receive the first set of five airplanes for the airliner on December 19.The airline will make profit in three years after operations, he said.
Mr Sirika explained that the government would step in to cover the funding gap at the onset and ease out thereafter.He said the government would not get involved in the management of the national carrier.
He said Nigeria’s population of over 180 million people is huge enough to support aviation, adding that the airline would take advantage of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that the country has with over 70 countries.
According to him, it will also take advantage of the Africa Single Air Transport Market and will be the best player if the government gets it right.
“But if we don’t, it will become a threat to us. But I believe we are on the right track.
The minister also gave an assurance that the national carrier would not kill the domestic airlines operating in the country.
The Director General of ICRC, Mr Izuwah, said the presentation of the Certificate of Compliance was an official green light to proceed with the procurement process.
