In a significant development, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, announced the indefinite suspension of the Air Nigeria Airline project during a ministerial briefing marking the first year of the Tinubu administration. This decision stems from the revelation that the airline, purporting to be Nigerian, was employing a foreign airline to serve as the national carrier.
The move aligns with the recommendation made by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation in June 2023, which called for the suspension of Nigeria Air’s establishment. The committee further advocated for legal action against individuals involved in the unveiling of the national carrier by the previous administration, terming the event as deceptive.
In a related event on May 26th, the former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, had unveiled an aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, claiming it belonged to the national carrier. However, subsequent investigations have cast doubt on the authenticity of this claim.
