Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muktar Usman has stated that talks surrounding the proposed national carrier project died down because most Nigerians are beginning to understand and buy into the project.
In a chat with journalists in Lagos, Captain Usman who assured that the project is still on course, stated that the government is working round the clock for a successful take-off.
Usman said that the Nigeria Air project arrangements would continue until it is delivered to the Nigerians, stressing that even though people are now quiet about it, it does not mean that the project has been put to rest.
On the role of transaction advisers, Usman said “It is a process, the process is ongoing and it is transparent as people can see, it is to get the best for Nigeria. Nigerians have been yearning for the gaps created by the lack of having strong and viable carrier that would meet the demands and potential of both in the domestic, regional and International markets”.
Assuring that the December take-off date is very feasible, the NCAA DG said that, as far as the regulatory agency is concerned to deliver on the two major certificates, the Air Transport Licence (ATL) and the Aircraft Operators Certificate (AOC), all things being equal, is 90 days.
“We still have more than 90 days to the end of the year, so, it is still feasible, all things being equal, am just talking from the regulatory point of view”, Usman said.
It would be recalled that in July this year, the federal government, through the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, revealed the branding and livery for a new national flag carrier, Nigeria Air, due to be launched in December.
During the launch at the Farnborough Air Show in London, United Kingdom, Sirika pledged, “We are all fully committed to fulfilling the campaign promise made by our President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015. We are aiming to launch Nigeria Air by the end of this year”.
