FG Suspends Nigeria Air, Announces Closure Of Lagos Airport Old Terminal

The Federal Government declared yesterday that Nigeria Air will not fly at this time.

Contracts granted in connection with the contentious project, to which former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika devoted significant time and effort in the final weeks of the Buhari Administration, will be fully audited.

VerseNews reports that Festus Keyamo, the country’s minister for aviation and aerospace development, made this statement yesterday during his first visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

He also alluded to intentions for a thorough reform of the industry to make things right.

To make room for the old terminal’s refurbishment, all international airlines will start flying out of the MMIA’s new terminal as of October 1.

Regarding the rationale for the decision regarding Nigeria Air, Keyamo said:

“Nigeria Air has been suspended until I brief the President whom I owe absolute loyalty and honesty to the people of Nigeria about all that transpired concerning that project.

“We have to ensure that everything is right before we can go ahead with further transactions on it.”

As of the last count, the Federal Government had sunk N3 billion into the Nigeria Air project before May 29.

Ethiopian Airline, which got the franchise to run the national carrier was to have 49 per cent stake. Nigeria Sovereign Fund and the Federal Government providing 46 per cent and five per cent respectively.