Hadi Sirika Archives - Page 2 of 3

�We launched Virgin Nigeria, but one of my successors drove Branson away� � Ex-Minister

June 10, 2023June 10, 2023 Aminu Imam

A former Minister of Aviation, Isa Yuguda, has shed light on the events that led to the early demise of Virgin Nigeria. Founded in 2004 as a replacement for the then-defunct Nigeria Airways, Virgin Nigeria operated as a joint venture between Nigerian investors and British billionaire, Richard Branson�s Virgin Group. However, a feud with the Federal Government led to the Virgin Group pulling out in 2009. This prompted the airline to be renamed Nigerian Eagle Airlines and later Air Nigeria. The business ultimately ceased operations in 2012. Yuguda, who was…

House of Reps declare Nigeria Air launch a fraud, vows probe

June 7, 2023June 7, 2023 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has declared the purported launch of Nigeria Air at the twilight of the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari, a fraud. Recall that the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had on Friday, May 26, brought in an aircraft branded Nigeria Air. A Boeing 737-800 with registration number ET-APL, mode S Q4005C, and serial number 40965/4075, was displayed by the outgone Minister as belonging to Nigeria Air. Sirika had said the aircraft was one out of 30 aeroplanes expected to form the fleet of national carriers…

Concerns grow, as Nigeria Air is flown into Abuja on �borrowed� Ethiopian Airlines

May 27, 2023May 27, 2023 Aminu Imam

Stakeholders in the aviation sector have expressed concerns over controversies surrounding the acquisition of aircraft used to float the national carrier, Nigeria Air. Findings have revealed that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had contacted Ethiopian airlines few days ago, to provide an aircraft that would be presented to Nigerians as an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air. Ethiopian airline obliged by repainting and rebranding one of its Boeing 737-860 Max aircraft. Investigations show that the Boeing 737-860 Max has registration Number ET-APL, Mode S Q4005C, and serial number: 40965/4075. It…

Nigeria Air to fly before May 29 � Aviation Minister

March 24, 2023March 24, 2023 Aminu Imam

Minister of aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has declared that Nigeria Air, the projected national carrier, will take flight before May 29th, 2023. According to the Minister, who stated this yesterday at the 10th Aviation stakeholders forum, said the project is98 percent finished. �The airline will fly before May 29th this year�, he stated. �Negotiation meeting with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria ongoing. Next step: Federal Executive Council approval of the Full Business Case. �Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end…

Nigeria Air: Airline operators get court order to stop project

November 16, 2022November 16, 2022 Aminu Imam

�.�No court can stop airline from flying� � Sirika The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has stopped the Federal Government from going on with its Nigeria Air agreement reached with Ethiopia Airlines. Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who granted the order of interim injunction on Friday, ruled that an Order of Maintenance of Status Quo by all the parties in the suit from taking any further step(s) in relation to the subject matter of the suit pending when the determination of the ‘Motion on Notice’ is granted. Recall that about eight…

Ethiopian Airlines� stake in Nigeria Air, an existential threat to aviation sector �Aviation Stakeholders

October 27, 2022October 27, 2022 Aminu Imam

As the Federal Government wraps up plans to flag-off the national carrier, Nigeria Air, stakeholders in the aviation sector have expressed concerns over the choice of Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor in the airline. Recall that a month ago, the federal government, through the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, announced Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor for the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, following a successful bid. Sirika said the airlines will have 49 percent equity while Nigerian private investors (SAHCO, MRS and other institutional investors) have 46 percent and…

Embattled Nigeria Air: Ethiopian Airlines selected as technical partner, core investor – Report

September 17, 2022September 17, 2022 Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has reportedly picked Ethiopian Airlines as a technical partner and core investor for the planned national carrier, Nigeria Air. According to a source at the ministry of aviation who spoke to newsmen yesterday, said that representatives of the ministry had travelled to Addis-Ababa to finalise the agreements, adding that the selection will be announced soon �Yes, we have selected Ethiopian Airlines. We have agreed to work with the airline, and we are hoping to make the announcement soon�, the source was quoted as saying. The source further…

Nigeria Air: FEC approves lease of 3 aircrafts to commence operations

July 28, 2022July 28, 2022 Aminu Imam

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the leasing of three aircrafts by the country�s national carrier, known as �Nigeria Air� to enable it to commence operations. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said this yesterday while briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Federal Government had disclosed that Nigeria Air will commence operations with three wet-leased aircraft. Sirika said Nigeria Air will start with domestic flights before expanding to international routes. While reacting to the issue of airline shut down such as Aero Contractors,…

Nigeria Air: FG disburses N6.25bn on consultancy, advisers

November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 Aminu Imam

�Budgets N14.7bn in 3yrs The controversial national carrier, Nigeria Air, may see the light of the day before the current administration winds down, with a new take-off date now set for the first quarter of 2022. The fresh optimism, it was learnt, is not unconnected with a recent headway in the search for credible technical partners and financial backings of the Federal Government year-on-year. Indeed, another shot at floating a national carrier, being one of the 2015 electioneering promises of President Muhammadu Buhari, has consistently scaled-up appropriation votes since 2019…

Aviation sector undergoing revolution under Buhari�s administration – APC group

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Aminu Imam

By Godwin Amunde The APC Legacy Awareness and Campaign, a voluntary think-tank of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), says the aviation sector in Nigeria is undergoing a revolution under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The group said the revolution is evident in the investments made in infrastructural development and capacity building in the sector. In a statement, signed by the quartet of Barr Ismail Ahmed, Lanre Issa-Onilu, Tolu Ogunlesi and Salihu Moh Lukman, the group said that the Buhari administration has kept faith with the Aviation Roadmap it…