FG to float national carrier with 30 aircraft

Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah

The Federal Government said on Thursday that a new national carrier with at least 30 brand new aircraft would soon be established.

The Director of Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Henry Omeogu, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during his visit to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

Omeogu explained that though the new national carrier would be private sector-driven, fairly used or old aircraft would not be allowed to be among the fleet of its airplanes.

He said the move was part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan for the aviation sector, adding that the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, was determined to turn around the industry.

Explaining that the Federal Government was interested in raising the standard in the aviation sector to a world-class level, Omeogu disclosed that the government had begun the renovation of 11 airports across the country.

“We are going to have about 30 brand new aircraft and they (aircraft) will be our national carrier. The effort will be private-sector driven. We will insist that others who would want to be part this should come with brand new aircraft,” Omeogu stressed.

The FAAN director gave an assurance that by 2014, the Federal Government would have achieved nearly 100 per cent of its plans to transform the aviation sector.

He said improved security within and around airports across the country was part of the arrangement for a new aviation industry, adding that over 50 policemen had already been moved from Abuja to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“The President has signed performance contracts with all the sectors, and at the end of the day, any person that cannot key into the new vision of the Federal Government will naturally leave the system,” he added.

Omeogu explained that the ongoing transformation of the country’s aviation sector would provide many employment opportunities for the citizens.

He said materials needed for the renovation of some of the airports in the country were available, while the contractors had been paid to avoid any delay in the completion of the projects.