Fani-Kayode defends Obasanjo over Nigeria Airways collapse

Femi Fani-Kayode has stepped into an ongoing dispute over Nigeria Airways by backing former President Olusegun Obasanjo's 2004 decision to shut down the national carrier. Fani-Kayode, who served as Aviation Minister in 2006, made his position known in responses posted on social media Thursday, directly addressing criticism from current Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo regarding the airline's closure and unpaid worker benefits.

Fani-Kayode contended that Obasanjo took over a severely damaged airline when he returned to power in 1999. The former minister said the carrier had already been weakened by corrupt practices and operational failures during earlier administrations, leaving it with mounting debts and depleted resources.

He portrayed the liquidation as the only viable option after attempts to restore the airline's financial health proved unsuccessful. Keyamo had recently criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in connection with the airline's fate, following the government's recent release of outstanding pension and gratuity payments to former Nigeria Airways workers.

Fani-Kayode acknowledged possessing knowledge of Atiku's position during Federal Executive Council discussions on whether to fund the pension obligations, but declined to reveal whether the former vice president backed or opposed the payment arrangement. The debate centers on accountability for decisions made during Obasanjo's administration concerning Nigeria Airways, which ceased operations two decades ago.

Fani-Kayode's defense shifted responsibility to previous governments, suggesting that structural problems predating 1999 made the liquidation inevitable. The pension payments now being disbursed represent long-delayed compensation for workers affected by the airline's closure.