Nigeria Rules Out New National Carrier After Nigeria Air Failure

The Nigerian government has stated it will not pursue the establishment of a new national carrier after the failure of Nigeria Air, as announced by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a ceremony in Lagos on Thursday. Keyamo criticized the bureaucratic and political control that hampers the survival of state-owned airlines, asserting that the government cannot afford to fund a national airline that may become a financial burden.

He noted that successful airlines globally, such as Ethiopian Airlines, operate independently of government interference. The minister referenced previous administrations' failures with Nigeria Air, which is currently embroiled in a multibillion-naira fraud trial involving former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika.

Testimonies revealed misappropriation of funds, including 2 billion naira related to aircraft rentals. Obiora Okonkwo, chairman of Nigeria Airlines, expressed concerns about high operational costs and urged the government to provide financial support for local carriers.