Nigeria National Carrier Establishment Gathers Momentum As Minister Meets Boeing

The Federal Government of Nigeria’s plan to establish a National Carrier is looking bright, as discussions with Boeing continue. It would be recalled that during President Muhammadu Buhari’s last visit to the United State of America, a meeting with the American aircraft manufacturer’s management took place.

Another phase of the meeting with the aircraft manufacturing giant took place at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation at the weekend.

After the meeting with Boeing representatives, the minister said the new carrier will come on stream soon.

The Minister announced his meeting with the Boeing team via a social media platform (Twitter). The minister stated that the meeting was in furtherance to the setting up of a new carrier. “This afternoon, I met with the Boeing team in furtherance to our set up of a new carrier soon”, said Sirika on his twitter handle, @hadisirika.

This statement corroborated a report early last week by Aviationages.com that the Minister targets December 24, 2018 for the new national carrier to commence operations.

The minister had already inaugurated a 9-man Fast Track Task Force emanating from a “National Carrier Brainstorming Meeting” to drive the establishment of the project.

Alh. Sabiu Zakari, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transportation; Capt. Muhtar Usman, the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority; Dr. Ibrahim Idris, Chief of Staff to the minister; Capt. Gabriel Tilmann (a representative of the National Carrier Transaction Adviser) and others were in attendance.

Boeing team members in attendance at the meeting were: Larry Tolliver, Director of Sales for Africa and John Fonvielle, Regional Director of Contracts for Africa.

 

Source: http://aviationages.com/nigeria-national-carrier-establishment-gathers-momentum-as-minister-meets-boeing/