Government to submit Fly Nigeria Act to National Assembly compelling public servants to use Nigeria Air

AVIATION minister Hadi Sirika has revealed that the federal government is considering sending a bill called the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly that will compel government officials to use the new proposed carrier Nigeria Air.

Last week, at the Farnborough Air Show in Kent, in the UK, Mr Sirika, revealed the name and logo of the new carrier to be known as Nigeria Air following extensive negotiations with several international airlines and aircraft manufacturers. He pointed out that Nigeria Air, due to take off in December, will fly to 80 different destination and will have a fleet of 30 aircraft once it becomes operational.

He pointed out that the federal government is seeking a strategic partner to operate the carrier, stressing that the state would not own more than 5% of the new airline. According to Mr Sirika, a private operator, sought through a public private partnership process, would manage the airline, which will operate 40 domestic, regional and sub-regional routes, as well as 41 international destinations.

Yesterday, the federal government announced that it had commenced moves to compel all public servants travelling on a ticket bought with public funds to travel using the new national carrier. Mr Sirika also declared that it was false to state that Nigeria Air lacked a domain name, adding that those who wanted to steal the airline’s domain name would not get a kobo from the federal government.

Mr Sirika said: “As part of efforts to make airlines viable in Nigeria, the ministry is making moves to have the National Assembly pass a fly Nigeria Act. This act will require that anybody travelling on a ticket bought with public funds must travel on a Nigerian carrier unless the route is not served by a Nigerian carrier.

"However, with your private funds, you can do as you like. Many countries, including America, have such acts.”

He explained that as part of the airline’s public-private partnership (PPP) project development phase, Nigeria Air Limited was currently incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a wholly government-owned company. Under the plan, the Corporate Affairs Commission will use nominal directors of the Federal Ministry of Aviation as directors of the national airline.

“On conclusion of the PPP procurement process, when full equity structure pre-financial close is finalised, the incorporation will be updated and the certificate of incorporation made public. Nigeria Air Limited is indeed a legal entity. Further to the incorporation of the company with nominal directors, the domain name has been reserved and will be made active very soon as part of the project evolution and marketing process.

"Some people, whose only desire is to steal Nigeria’s commonwealth by hawking domain names, will not a get a kobo from the people of Nigeria. They can eat their domain names,” Mr Sirika added.