Lagos – The plan to bestow a new national carrier for Nigeria before the end of the year is advancing as the Federal Government has called for contributions towards giving the new airline a name.
A statement issued over the weekend by Mr. James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press Aviation said that the government expected contributions from the nation’s youths and students to give appropriate names for the proposed national airline.
He added: “Nigerian youth and students are therefore invited to contribute their ideas and creativity in the naming of the new Nigerian flag carrier through a participation programme www.nameyourairlinenigeria.com.
Odaudu explained that the first 1,000 entries would be given consideration in the creative process of the airline, stressing that this effort was to carry the people especially the youth along, as being part of the process.
It would be recalled that controversies have trailed the planned reestablishment of a new national carrier for Nigeria since the liquidation of the former by the Federal Government in 2014.
While a section of players in the sector believed the nation needed one, others condemned the involvement of agencies’ heads in the fast-track committee and said it would rob of the carrier of transparency.
Sirika had in May said a new national carrier would berth for Nigeria by December 24, 2018 and inaugurated a nine-man committee, (fast track task force), to ensure the sanctity of the take-off date and other agreements reached with the transaction advisers.
He had appointed Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency as Chairman of the committee to realise the target deadline.
Other members included Capt. Muhtar Usman, Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed, Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology; Mr. Akin Olateru, Commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB); Capt. Tilmann Gabriel (a representative of National Carrier Transaction Adviser); Layi Are (a representative of Transaction Adviser for MRO and Aviation Leasing Company); Mr. Chidi Izuwah, the Acting Director General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC); while Mr. Ben Tukur, Technical Assistant to the Minister of State for Aviation, will serve as the Secretary of the committee.
But, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), umbrella body of indigenous airlines in the country said the entire programme lacked transparency.
Mr. Roland Iyayi, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Brass Aviation in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos had said that the establishment of the carrier was in flagrant disobedient to the earlier statement of Sirika.
He pointed out that Sirika had said in several forums that government would not invest in the impending national carrier, but would only create an enabling environment for it to thrive.
He, however, said that the steps taken so far by Sirika had shown that government may be the major investor in the project.
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