The federal executive council (FEC) has approved the appointment of Lufthansa, the German carrier, and five other firms as advisers for the set up of Nigeria’s planned national carrier.

According to Hadi Siriki, the minister of aviation, the appointed advisers will help Nigeria set up a national airline and develop its aviation infrastructure to create a hub for West Africa.

Reuters quoted Sirika as saying a group of six firms including German carrier Lufthansa would advise the government on setting up an airline, an aviation leasing company and a maintenance hanger, and on creating concessions to run the country’s airports.

FEC as chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also approved 1.52 billion naira ($4.99 million) of funding for the project.

Sirika said the government is awarding the N1.52 billion contract to “Messrs Lufthansa Consulting/TN Aero FGE, for the national carrier; for the aviation leasing company, it is Messrs Arrow; for the concession of airports, Messrs Infrata Dantens; for the establishment of the MRO, Messrs Arrow; then, the aerotropolis and agro cargo terminals were given to JEBB”.

“All of these were at different amounts but the total sum is N1.524bn. Council had graciously approved and these will signal the kick-start of all of the activities within the transportation and aviation industry,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, promised to set up a national airline for the growth of Nigeria’s challenging aviation industry.

Sirka had said earlier in the year that the national airline will be up and running by the end of 2017, adding that it will be private-sector driven.

“The national airline will be one that the government will have no hand in; normally it can have three percent,” he said.

“It will be private sector-led, private sector-driven. Except with the Ethiopian airline it has been proven that government doesn’t do well with this kind of venture.

“We are going to have a national carrier; it is on course and because it is a PPP thing it has to go through IC and C, and also has to follow all the due process. So it is time-consuming but I hope very soon before the end of the year we will have a very strong viable national airline.”

Nigeria’s previous national carrier was the Nigeria Airways, wholly owned by the government and founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation, but it ceased operations in 2003.

https://www.thecable.ng/nigeria-appoints-lufthansa-five-advisers-set-national-airline

Brilliant.

A rare move in the right direction by this government. I especially agree with the plan for it to be run by the private sector. Up to 40% of the equity could be held by foreigners and/or foreign entities.

Ideally, the national carrier would be a long-haul airline that would take over the existing long-haul routes of Arik, Medview, and Air Peace. These individual airlines can NEVER mount a credible challenge to the likes of SAA, Ethiopian airlines, KLM, BA, Virgin Atlantic or Emirates. It's better to have a single long haul carrier, with adequate funding and manpower, that would properly challenge the other international mega airlines.

The existing local airlines would still be allowed to ply local and regional routes, and should have code-share agreements with the national airline whereby the airlines transfer passengers from local/regional flights to the international flights.

Old and forgotten country.. if it's not from foreigner then it won't make sense.. yeye government

HEY! Be positive for once

leofab:
Old and forgotten country.. if it's not from foreigner then it won't make sense.. yeye government

Another step in the right direction. Baba can never be wrong. Thank God for sending Buhari to save Nigeria from the leprous hands of PDP's corruption and looting. What PDP destroyed, Buhari is building.

leofab:
Old and forgotten country.. if it's not from foreigner then it won't make sense.. yeye government

Must you oppose every

Juchii:

Must you oppose every

oppose what? Can we start developing ourselves?

serikigoro:
HEY! Be positive for once

mr. positivity.. we Nigerians can do it.

Good news