Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the Ministry of
Aviation should commence work on the establishment of a national
carrier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Binta Bello, monday
inaugurated the committee on the establishment of the country’s flag
carrier.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Bello charged members of the
committees to pursue the assignment with all seriousness because of its
national importance.
According to her, the inauguration of the committee became imperative
in view of the interest shown by the president which prompted his
marching orders to the ministry to immediately commence the process of
establishing a national carrier.
While underscoring the establishment of a national carrier, Bello said
it was not only justified by economic considerations, but also
strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potential.
The committee, which has a former Managing Director of Discovery
Airlines, Captain Muhammad Abdullahi, as Chairman, is charged with
reviewing previous consultants’ submissions and recommendations on a
national carrier.
She said: “The committee must expand it searchlight by reviewing the
report on the failure of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other failed
private airlines.
The committee also has the mandate to consult widely with stakeholders
on the establishment of a national carrier, including interested
international partners on setting up a national carrier on the basis of
Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy.
The permanent secretary also charged the committee to invite the Assets
Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to determine the debt profile
of domestic airlines to serve as a guide in its recommendations, and to
develop the optimum model for a national flag carrier for the country.
Responding on behalf of other members, abduction, regretted the issues
that led to the collapse of the defunct Nigeria Airways and promised
that they would develop an economically robust model that would stand
the test of time and meet the aspirations of Nigeria as a nation.
The committee has four weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
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