THE Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has said that the ministry is set to give to the nation a befitting national carrier in 2013.

The ministry according to information gathered has completed all the necessary processes but the final approval has to come from the presidency to make the dream become a reality.

While assuring that the ministry was ready to reel out the conditions for any interested organisations or airlines that will want to float the national carrier, no specific date has been given for the airline kick off.

Speaking through her Special Assistant, Media, Mr Joe Obi in a telephone interview, he said that the process of choosing a national carrier for the country involves lots of stages, which would be in the public domain once the approval is received from the presidency.

His words: “We are expecting a new national carrier by 2013. National carrier would come on stream this year, but when is what I can’t say because the process involves a lot of stages. For us at the ministry level, we have done all the ground work needed, but we are still awaiting the final approval from the presidency. Once that comes out, we will set the ball rolling. We can’t come out with the conditions now because the final authority to go ahead will come from the presidency.

“It is when the approval comes that we can now unveil those conditions and criteria for the organisations or airlines that are interested. So, let’s tarry a while and wait for the presidential endorsement. Once we have that, we will do something and everything would be in the public domain so that no one would be left in doubt about the composition of the person or airline that will form the national carrier.”

The minister had earlier re-awakened the national carrier debate in a forum in Abuja when she said the country deserved a national carrier like other countries.

Source: http://odili.net/news/source/2013/jan/4/606.html

*Is a national carrier necessary for Nigeria? The floor is open. Please no personal insults.*

good development