January 08, (THEWILL) – The newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, has denied reports that he has been mandated by President Bola Tinubu to revive the Nigeria Air Project.
Reports had quoted Kana, during a meeting on Monday, with heads of agencies of the aviation ministry and members of staff in Abuja, to have said he had been given the mandate to accomplish two objectives of the current administration.
“While receiving my deployment letter, I received very clear instructions, with two tasks to achieve within this period, by His Excellency, Mr President, as well as the Head of Service of the Federation. One is to ensure that Air Nigeria comes to be. Two, sanitise our airports across the country. All of us will agree that there is no better time to have an Air Nigeria than now”, he was quoted.
THEWILL recalled that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, had last year declared the indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project, saying it was nothing short of Ethiopian Airlines aiming to fly the Nigerian national flag.
Kana, who had been quoted pledging to prioritise the President’s renewed hope agenda, by working with Keyamo to achieve the national carrier’s revival, on Wednesday, dismissed receiving any instruction regarding the revival of the botched Air deal with Ethiopia.
He said, “It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I address you today. As we chart the course for the continued growth and development of Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace sector.
“Since my inaugural statement on Monday, at the hand-over ceremony, I have been inundated with inquiries about my reference to the revival of the National Carrier Project.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I never said that there is a mandate to revive the botched Nigeria Air deal with Ethiopian airline. I received no such instruction. I was only referring to the general vision of the Administration to still consider a National Carrier Project if it is favourable to the country and under the guidance and directives of Mr President and the Honourable Minister of Aviation. I hope this clarifies all the ambiguities surrounding my earlier statement on this issue.
“On a personal note, I pledge absolute loyalty to the Honourable Minister and remain dedicated to working closely with him to drive the Ministry’s agenda forward. Together, we will ensure that the future of aviation in Nigeria is bright, innovative, and reflective of the aspirations of our great nation.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
