The plane for the proposed Nigeria Air will arrive on Friday ahead of the commencement of operations, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has confirmed.
The Minister told a television station that a Nigeria Air aircraft will land in the country in two days as part of processes to commence operations and unveiling of the delivery process.
He promised that the aircraft will be unveiled in Nigeria’s colours in fulfillment of all the commitments made by the administration in the aviation sector.
He noted that the only incomplete item is the aerotropolis, which is the airport city and is 60 percent complete.
According to him, the ground work has been completed and are looking to conclude work on the airport city by the next administration.
Sirika, at an aviation stakeholder’s forum in Abuja in March, said that Nigeria Air will commence full operations before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Responding to a question on when exactly Nigeria Air will commence operations, the Minister said: “Before the end of this administration, before May 29th, we will fly.”
He added that the Federal Government is leaving the aviation sector better than it met it having achieved over 90 percent of the sector’s road map.
But the controversial carrier is yet to be issued an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA).
The suit challenging the airline’s take off is yet to be determined at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The umbrella body of local carriers – Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), is challenging the selection of Ethiopian Airlines as core investor / technical partner for the controversial project.
The AON is faulting the 15-year tax moratorium to be granted the new carrier insisting that such preferential treatment will push competitors out of business.
