"N3bn, not N85bn": Ex-Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika Speaks on How Much FG Released for Nigeria Air
- The ex-Minister of Aviation has clarified on the controversies surrounding the alleged unveiling of Nigeria Air
- The former minister went on to disclose how much the Federal Government has so far released for the project
- He also listed what the money released by the FG has been spent on in the last seven years.
Hadi Sirika, the former minister of Aviation has stated that the Federal Government only released N3 billion for the Nigeria Air project and not N85 billion as reported in some quarters.
The Minister was speaking in an interview with Reuben Abati on Arise TV on Sunday, June 11, 2023, following allegations of fraud leveled against the ministry by the House of Representatives.
Source: UGC
It would be recalled that the minister along with other government officials unveiled Boeing 737-800 aircraft with the logo of Nigeria Air.
The aircraft which has registration Number ET-APL, Mode S Q4005C, and serial number: 40965/4075, was then believed to have been an acquisition for the national carrier which was in the works for over six years.
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It was later revealed that the aircraft belonged to Ethiopian Airlines, the major shareholder in Nigeria Air, and was reported to have been rebranded to represent Nigeria Air at the request of Sirika.
During the live interview, Sirika clarified the part of the government in the unveiling of the national carrier and went on to make some astonishing claims.
Hadi Sirika reveals how much FG released for Nigeria Air
Sirika also claimed that of the N5 billion budgeted for the project, only N3 billion was disbursed and was yet to be fully expended at the time he left office at the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration on May 29.
From 2016 to 2023, all of the money voted and budgeted for Nigeria Air is N5 billion. But all that was released was in the neighborhood of N3 billion, not N85 billion, and not all of the N3 billion has been expended as of the time I left office.
He added that the money was used to finance consulting services, special advisory services, payment of salaries, maintenance of Abuja office, Air Operator Certificate (AOC) process, amongst others.
Responding to the disclosure by the Managing Director of Nigeria, Dapo Olumide, that the unveiled plane was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines, Sirika claimed that the gesture was purely of the investors and that no payment was made.
He also claimed that the unveiling of the national carrier was not done by the Federal Government but by the airlines' shareholders, while he was only invited to grace the event.
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It was their own marketing strategy as equity partners. They came to do this unveiling on a special allowance called chartered and it does not mean that we paid for it. If anybody was to pay for it, it would have been the Ethiopian Airline, not the Nigerian government. No penny was paid.
The ownership structure of Nigeria Air comprises Ethiopian Airlines holding 49%, Nigerian private investors (including SAHCO, MRS, and other institutional investors) holding 46%, and the remaining 5% owned by the Federal Government.
Since the House of Representative committee revealed the controversies surrounding the unveiling of Nigeria Air, there have been calls from some quarters for the arrest of Sirika who they believe played a major role in the contentious launch of the national carrier.
Hadi Sirika accuses lawmaker of soliciting 5% bribe in Nigeria Air
In related news, Legit.ng reported that Hadi Sirika leveled accusations against Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation.
Sirika claims that Nnaji attempted to obtain a 5% stake in the controversial Nigeria Air project.
According to Sirika, Nnaji allegedly requested the shares for both himself and his people, but Sirika redirected him to the shareholders.
During a live program on Arise TV, Sirika expressed his belief that Nnaji's continuous criticism of the airline may stem from his failure to secure the 5% shares, deeming the entire endeavor a fraudulent scheme.
Source: Legit.ng
