Nigeria former Aviation minister address Nigeria Air controversy

Former Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika don reveal say so far na only three billion naira na im Federal goment bin bring come for di Nigerian Air project.

E say as at di time wey im bin comot from office, di money wey di goment bin drop for di airline waka still remain for office.

Sen Sirika make di clarification during im interview wit Arise TV say, "di mata of 83 billion naira just dey ridiculous".

E reveal say "di structure of dat company (Nigeria Air) be say 5% dey for Federal goment wey Ministry of Finance dey hold for dem, 49% for strategic equity partner wey be Ethiopian Airline, 31% by MRS and 15% by SAHCO".

E also make am known say one of di members of di Senate Comittee on Aviation bin come meet am say make e give am and im pipo 5% of di company.

Di unveiling of Nigeria Air shock pipo on 29 May wey mark di end of di Buhari administration and many pipo bin no understand wetin happun for dat side.

But Oga Sirika try clear di air say, "Na di owners wey get di business run di unveiling as part of dia marketing strategy come invite me and I go, inspect di plane, make statement say di airline go dey operational once di AOC mata don settle".

E further reveal on di mata of di Abuja unveiling say, goment no drop shi-shi for dat plane as e dey enta di kontri.

Apparently, even if goment no wan run di mata of Nigeria Air again, di remaining shareholders fit continue to dey run di business as na only 5% goment dey hold.

"From 2016- 2023, all di money wey dem don vote and budget for national carrier na 5 billion naira, but all dem release na about three billion naira no be 85 billion."

Di journey of Nigeria Air bin get two phases.

Di former Aviation minister bin explain say in di beginning, na goment suppose fund di enterprise with $350 million wey di business suppose pay back but di business bin follow change.

E say, "di unveiling for Famborough na goment drive dat one, e suppose to dey as opportunity to discuss wit airplane makers, discuss wit stakeholders wey go like join and do road show.

"But wen we come back Nigeria and Nigeria Air come get im own shareholders, na for dia own marketing strategy dem decide say dem go unveil di airline, to come to Nigeria to take showcase how e go be pending wen di AOC (Airline Operators Certificate) don dey completed".

Painting di plane

Tori according to di National Bureau of Statistics bin put di amount spent at 83 billion naira but Sen Sirika quickly address dat claim.

E reveal say "Na about three billion naira don dey released for di national carrier and we neva spend all di three billion finish as at di time wey I comot from office."

Wetin dem use di money do na "transactional advisory services, di AOC processes, salaries, consultancy services and di office for Abuja," na wetin im add.

E bash former Managing Director of di Nigerian Management Agency for wetin im tok about di money wey goment don comot for dis project say, "na di imagination of Roland Iyayi for di National Assembly wia im say 85 billion bin dey budgeted and spent and wen dem ask am e say NBS.

Make NBS question, weda e dey true say dem get am for record say, di money don dey spent".

Still on money mata as e concern di May 29 unveiling, "Ethiopia airline bin enta di kontri dat day as charter, charter no mean say anybodi pay money or anytin. Goment no pay shi-shi for dat plane to come in."

"Na dia marketing and dem come for special allowance wey dem call charter. If any pesin pay for anytin, e go be Ethiopian airline not Nigerian goment at all".

"I hear say 139 billion bin dey used to paint di aircraft and bring am in, dat na very ridiculous somtin, because dat kain money fit buy five brand new 737s".

E conclude say make pipo invoke di Freedom of Information Act and ask for information like dis kain one.

Between Sirika and Nnoli Nnaji

Sen Hadi Sirika comot to bash di notion say evritin wey concern dis Nigeria Air parole bin dey for inside secrecy.

E reveal say dem bin host open bidding for pipo wey wan join as shareholders and even get six stake holders meetings on di mata.

E say, "Wetin di secrecy dey all about, I tink e dey inside dia imagination."

Sirika respond to statement wey di former chairmo of di House Committee on Aviation, Nnoli Nnaji wey call di whole mata say e be fraud.

E comment on di mata say di Lawmaker ask am for something wey im no fit do.

Nnoli Nnaji, wey be House of Reps member wey dey represent Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, bin release statement from d comittee say, "we wan put am on record say di comittee and di National Assembly bin no get role for di so called launch of Nigeria Air or anytin wey relate to am."