Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika says contrary to speculations, only N3 billion was spent on the National carrier project also known as Nigeria Air adding he never spent N85 billion
Speaking to Journalists in Abuja, the Minister said N5 billion was budgeted for the project but only N3 billion was released.
READ ALSO: Federal Government released N3 billion for Nigeria Air in Seven years – Hadi Sirika
He said it was the only N3 billion out of the N5 billion budgeted for the project that was released to the Aviation ministry.
The former Minister said: “Between the years 2016-2023, all the money budgeted for Nigeria Air, was about N5 billion but not all of it was released. Perhaps about N3 billion was released.
“Part of the N3 billion has so far been spent on the acquisition of offices, payments of consultancy fees, workers’ salaries and processing of Air Operators ‘Certificate (AOC).”
The former Minister said people can take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act to know the details of all his dealings with Nigeria Air, adding that he is a very transparent person that has nothing to hide.
Rather, he said the aviation sector developed so well in Nigeria under his leadership.
“A lot has been said about me but I try to state the facts as we have done and what we have done is deposited in the records of the ministry; our modest attempt to change civil aviation had succeeded.
“During our time aviation became the fastest growing sector of the economy. The number of airlines and airports doubled and the number of passengers tripled. There are very many airlines now in the country and more than 50 percent of that happened during my tenure.
“So, I think that we have done our best to set up the National Carrier, the maintenance repair overhaul facility, a leasing company, a university, all these things. So I think we have done well as far as I am concerned,” Sirika stated.
He dissociated the Nigerian Government and himself from the hiring of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft which was unveiled at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on May 28, 2023 as the national carrier.
Fair Hearing
Hadi Sirika, who said he was never given the opportunity by the House of Representatives to give his own side of the story, blamed the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, for causing the delay in the national carrier’s takeoff.
“I think what the committee was a bit mischievous of the Chairman because I was in the House of representatives 20 years ago and the process of public hearing is to listen to the people and then take it to the committee, where clerks will put everything together then the committee will discuss it, take a position and inform the leadership of the House who decides whether it will go to the committee of the whole and then give a verdict.
“But in this case, the committee came, did the so called public hearing and the next thing you heard was that at the same place, same time without discussing the matter, the Chairman said to arrest Hadi Sirika. Such is unheard of and uncalled for.
“Maybe I should use this opportunity to say that the five percent stake shareholding of the company Nigeria air which the Chairman of the committee, Honourable Nnolim asked me for in camera, during executive session, is still available for him.
“But the answer I gave him then is still the same I will give him now. He should please go to the owners of Nigeria Air. I don’t do anything in secrecy. I am a public official and responsible for my actions and inactions. So I am saying that what he asked me in private, I am telling him now publicly that he should go and approach the owners of Nigeria Air,” the former Minister disclosed.
He further claimed that while the airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), begged him to truncate the project, Nnolimi Nnaji demanded a five percent equity in the project as a precondition for the support of the House committee.
The Minister said his refusal to consent to the demand must have made Nnaji describe Nigeria Air as a fraud.
The former minister said he made a recording of his conversation with Nnaji, whom he alleged did not do a thorough job as a House committee Chairman.
Take Off
Sirika said it was during the unveiling of the aircraft that he announced that Nigeria Air would take off after the issuance of the AOC by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
READ ALSO: Aviation Minister unveils Nigeria Air
He said there was nothing fraudulent or secret about the process leading to the naming of preferred bidders and equity partners for the national carrier.
Sirika said the fears of the local carriers were unfounded as they were invited to participate in the bid processes.
The former Aviation Minister put the investment value of Nigeria Air at $200 million.
He said Ethiopian Airlines would pay 49 percent of the $200 million and the Nigerian government, five percent while the remaining 46 percent was to be taken up by private investors; SAHCO Plc and MRS.
Sirika explained that the Nigerian government was not paying any cash as the five percent was to be converted in kind to the services and processes it had so far contributed to the project.
PIAK
