Nigeria Air aircraft arrival a record breaker – Sirika

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has described the arrival of the aircraft for the Nigeria Air project as a record breaker.

The minister stated this Friday when the aircraft arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja amidst ovations and greeted with a water cannon salute, according to a statement from his office.

He said, “This is epoch making. We are connecting the biggest population in Africa, which is Nigeria, and the biggest market in Africa.

“We are here. To the Almighty God be all the glory. It has been a very long, tedious, daunting and difficult path. We thank everyone for the support. This, by the will of God, will be for us and generations to come.”

• Children set agenda for Tinubu ahead of inauguration
• NAFDAC destroys N4.2bn worth of drugs, beverages

The minister was hopeful that the airline will be beneficial for Nigeria and for humanity. Senator Sirika had expressed hope earlier that Nigeria Air will fly before Buhari’s tenure ends.

Meanwhile, Sirika said the Nigerian government had no stopping right on the Nigeria Air.

He said if the federal government withdrww its equity holding, the other entities would continue the process to establish the airline.

“In a business where other entities own 95 per cent and you own just 5 per cent, if you decide not to continue, those who own 95 per cent stakes would. So, if the Federal Government of Nigeria decides not to continue, it only has 5 per cent and has no stopping right,” he said.

On when the airline will start operations, he said it had started because it is already incorporated, but added that it would start carrying passengers and goods after the entire regulatory requirements are met,” he said.