There are reports that a Nigeria Air aircraft which was earlier sighted at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia has landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
This is barely 2 days after the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, confirmed that the National Carrier, Nigeria Air’s aircraft will arrive in the country on Friday before the commencement of operations.
This is also despite opposition from Domestic operators under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) who have sued the Federal Government over the project.
Video footage circulating on social media platforms shows the Nigeria Air aircraft with a white background with the ‘Nigeria Air’ inscription on it at the Abuja airport on the last working day of this administration.
Minister earlier confirmed the plane’s arrival
Sirika, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, confirmed that the aircraft for the National Carrier, Nigeria Air, will arrive in the country on Friday ahead of the commencement of operations.
The Aviation Minister during an interview with Channels Television promised that the aircraft would be unveiled in Nigerian colours in fulfillment of all the promises made by the administration in the aviation sector.
He noted that the only incomplete item is the aerotropolis, which is the airport city and is 60% complete.
The Minister, however, pointed out that the groundwork for the aerotropolis has been completed, with work on the airport expected to be concluded by the incoming administration.
Airline operators to sue Minister
Meanwhile, Airline Operators of Nigeria have faulted plans by the outgoing Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to launch the operations of Nigeria Air on Friday (today) despite a restraining court order on the controversial project.
As a result, AON lawyers have written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to stop the minister’s attempt to “circumvent the court orders on Friday being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, among others.”
The local carriers also said they would sue the minister for contempt of court for planning to launch the carrier despite the court order stopping the project.
Source: Nairametrics
