Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was investigating the controversial ‘Nigeria Air’ project deal sealed by the federal government during the tenure of ex-aviation minister, Hadi Sirika.
Keyamo, who disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday night, said: “The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
Recall that then interim managing director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, had said the aircraft unveiled as the country’s much-talked-about national carrier was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines, adding that the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling ceremony on the last day of the Buhari administration in May, 2023.
He also said no local airline would be designated as a national airline, adding that “we will establish a proper national carrier.”
Recall that shortly after he was sworn in as minister, Keyamo faulted the deal by his predecessor Sirika and suspended the whole arrangement, which was hurriedly unveiled by days to the end of the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, to enable proper audit of the contracts.
The attendant controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, had forced veteran aviator, Girma Wake, to resign as chairman of Ethiopian Airlines.
Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had both labelled the launch of the Nigeria Air as a fraud.
The national carrier was unveiled by Sirika just three days before the end of former President Buhari administration and was with controversy.