Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said the defunct Nigeria Airways was a failure to the country and the aviation industry in particular.

Speaking at the launch of a book by Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, entitled: “Nigerian Civil Aviation: Decade of Security, Safety and Passenger Comfort Development in NCAA” in Lagos, Obasanjo said the defunct Nigeria Airways was run by a board of directors, that was very corrupt.

He noted that the airline failed because of the high level of corruption perpetrated by those running it, adding that all that could be done to salvage the situation then was to liquidate the airline.

He said: “Nigeria Airways was a failure. When you go through the history of what Nigerians have done to run down their country, it is bad. When I was leaving public office in 1979, there were 32 aircraft in Nigeria Airways fleet but when I came back in 1999, I only met one.

“I looked back to history and discovered that the board of directors of the airline was corrupt. The board will form a company in Jessey Island, USA and will give the repairs of the aircraft to that company. So, that was how they embezzled the airline’s fund and ran it down”

“Where is Okada Air, where is Albakar Air, where is Afri Air? They all went the way of Nigeria Airways. The situation of Nigeria Airways was not different from the Nigerian National Shipping Lines.”

He noted that if Nigeria would achieve the Vision 202020, transportation should be regarded as one aspect of the country’s economy, which civil aviation was a core part of it.

“I believe that if we are going to achieve Vision 202020, transportation is one aspect of our national economy that we cannot do without and civil aviation is a core part of it. I hope that what we have achieved so far, we will continue to build on it,” he stressed.

http://naija-online.com/2012/02/nigeria-airways-was-a-failure-obasanjo/

nigeria airways was run by a corrupt board of directors -obj. Ok fine,true,how many of d directors did u prosecute?none because u're doing paddy paddy. OBJ, U ARE A BIG PROBLEM TO NIGERIA.

Obj guess what: You sir, are a huge failure.

obasanjo ur time has passed make we hear word.

but at a time he is the best 9ja ever had, though hes a failure

as if the aviation industry is the only failed sector. .

as if the aviation industry is the only failed sector. .

abi oo

Baba must u talk? When u too are d senior lecturer in university of failure.

This old man should go and die?he is an agent send by lucify to destroy nigeria,and he has succeeded?You preside on the affairs of this nation for 8 yrs during which public properties were make private.I pray may u never hv peace were ever u re, the vuntures shall eat your flesh.for d hardship u couse this nation today.

Nigerians never like the truth anytime OBJ speaks of anything there always so many of you runing abuse at him. He deserves better he can not have his eyes everywhere, there is noting wrong he shares his experience with us. For you demanding when is he going to pass-on, since he left power what have you acheive? Even when he passes-on will he stop your father passing-on, we are all going to pass-on one day. History will be kind to him. All what he did was to lead the country to the best of his ability. Get off his back

This fool has cheek to talk

He mismanaged our national airline Nigeria Airways causing its collapse.

useless looter

history

OBJ still dey talk ?
only in nigeria will someone loot the country then still get mouth to talk.

obj is not only corrupt , 9jas are corrupt.even d people contributing on nairaland !no exemption.if we really want to reduce corruption every one should b involve .we must start from tribalism !

that gorilla is a chimpanzee

Imaging what our GCON then has to say

He was there for good 8yrs without prosecuting those Directors and brought them to book, instead he chooses to witch hunt his political opponents and those who refused to support his 3rd term agenda and now he's talking like a saint.

Posterity will judge you Baba iyabo.

shameless nairalanders, u re prosecuting nigeria's best ever.baba would live long, and continue to prosper weither u like him or not.

After choosing a team of the best u could present to him, if they turnred out to be a failure then lets blame ourselves.

We are the Ones who have failed our country.

And you were a disaster, Sir

And who is the Architect of the failure?

Look who is speaking! Shameless pig.

i thought he did the best thing by liquidating the company. It was a monumental failure. However no director was prosecuted. Ill commend him for taking the bold step because he could have ignored the company and tax payers monies will continue to be allocated to a moribund company

Hmm. Nigeria Airways was a failure and the government was a success abi? Only in Nigeria can a government use an airline for free to run errands as they wish. Can he tell us how much his government was owing Nigeria Airways? They used aircraft for hajj operations and ferrying ministers etc allover the world for shopping and co now they are opening their smelly mouths. The property and investments the Nig.Airways had tells you they new what they were doing but the govt was always a stumbling block. Contracts in other govt establishments were being executed in the 80-90s through Nig. Airways funds resulting in the inability of the airline to meet financial obligations as at when due internationally. Aircraft were seized and flights cancelled at the drop of a hat by most of these problems created by leaders in govt over time. This country is crap! Rubbish leaders.

@oiseworld:

shameless nairalanders, u re prosecuting nigeria's best ever.baba would live long, and continue to prosper weither u like him or not.

After choosing a team of the best u could present to him, if they turnred out to be a failure then lets blame ourselves. We are the Ones who have failed our country.

You Sir, seem to have a very short memory!
Lets assume OBJ met one aircraft at N.Airways, in 1999. WHAT DID HE DO AFTER THAT?

Do you recall one "beautiful" lady called Mrs Kema Chikwe?
This is a lady that has no technical ability, that has never worked in the airline industry in any capacity nor has any experience in running a "high-flux' industry like an airline.
THIS WAS THE PERSON THAT OBJ FOUND FIT TO REVITALIZE NIGERIA AIRWAYS!

WHY?
'Cos OBJ was too busy in "Congo shinning" of the beautiful Minister!

And the shameless nymphomaniac has the guts to morally-grandstand now?

Even after she ruined the only aircraft she met at N.Airways, OBJ was so "sweetened" by her diligence, he lobbied and ensured she was made Nigeria's Ambassador to Ireland!
Now, thats what l call "reward for job well-done" at Nigeria Airways Congo-Shinning!

Really, those who live in Glass House (Like OBJ) should not throw stones.
He was a monumental failure of a Leader but then, Nigeria is where the "one-eyed" is King! So, OBJ be King!!

Lastpage!

So, Obasanjo is not ashammed of himself right? How many tenures did he used as at when he misled Nigeria as president? He is now talking nonsense on the sins he committed in Nigeria Airways thinking that Nigerians do not know how the game on the Airline in question gone. He (OBJ) is now talking because Abacha was able to kick the bucket before him that made him to be talking rubbish after he misused all the opportunities to fix Nigeria well as president where he was able and stole our money and built refinery in Sao Tome & Principe. Operation Feed the Nation was meant for each state of Nigeria then but the man, OBJ hijacked the thing for himself alone in the name of Ota farm. How many should we count here? Failure.

after he has stolen our money and developed otta farms, ara ga gba ndi ara

We know Ota farm belongs to all of us , let him develop it all he wants one day we would get it back

nigeria had been more of a failure.

Nigeria became a failure because of Obj