Abdulsalam: chairs panel on new national airline

Nigeria  inaugurated a 12-man Ministerial Committee on the establishment of a National Carrier.

It is headed by former Managing Director of Discovery Airlines, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalam  with  the legal adviser of FAAN, Uche Isichei, serving as   secretary.

Assistant Director, Press and Public Affairs, Mr James Odaudu quoted the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello, on urging the committee to pursue the assignment with the sense of urgency it deserves.

Odaudu in a statement explained that the inauguration of the committee is in line with  President Muhammadu Buhari’s  directive on establishing a national airline

“The establishment of a national carrier is not only justified by economic considerations, but also strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potential.”

She also urged the committee to work with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on the debt profile of domestic airlines and make its recommendations.

The permanent secretary further charged the committee to review previous reports of consultants while examining the report on the defunct Nigeria Airways and other failed private airlines.

It advised that the committee to consult stakeholders in the aviation sector with a view to fashioning a national carrier based on the Public Private Partnership.

Responding, the chairman of the Committee, Capt. Abdulsalam assured the permanent secretary that the committee will develop a robust model that will meet the aspirations of Nigerians.
The statement said the committee had four weeks within which to submit its report.