Category: News

Abuja, Nigeria — Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika, has alleged that certain domestic airlines were responsible for the collapse of the Nigeria Air project — a proposed national carrier in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Sirika said that domestic carriers, including Air Peace, Azman Air, and United Nigeria Airlines, acted under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to frustrate the initiative. According to him, their opposition stemmed from the proposed ownership structure, in which the Nigerian government was to hold only a 5% stake. Sirika defended the transparency of the Nigeria Air agreement, noting that it was approved by both the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). He emphasized that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model followed all required procedures, including obtaining necessary certifications from the ICRC. “It was not our process — it was the process of the ICRC. It was not a bad deal,” Sirika stated. “Some people went to court to say we cannot establish an airline where we take five per cent. That was what stalled it.” The former minister also rejected allegations that N100 billion was spent on the failed project, clarifying that only N5 billion was budgeted for Nigeria Air between 2015 and 2023, with N3 billion released and about N2 billion spent — largely on consultancy and staffing. Sirika defended the decision to partner with Ethiopian Airlines, citing the lack of capacity among domestic carriers to compete with established international airlines. He argued that Ethiopian Airlines, with nearly eight decades of operational experience, was a logical partner to develop a sustainable national carrier. “Today, 95% of all airlines operating within Africa are non-African — British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France, and others. Ethiopian Airlines is one of the few successful African carriers, and they came to partner with us to open up the world,” he said. Sirika noted that the lack of a strong national airline contributes to the high cost of international flights from Nigeria. He cited the example of airfare between Abuja and London being more expensive than from Accra to London. He urged the public to invoke the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to scrutinize the details of the agreement, promising to release a book offering deeper insight into his tenure and the Nigeria Air saga. The Nigeria Air project was one of the most controversial initiatives of the Buhari administration’s aviation policy. Though unveiled with much fanfare in 2018 and relaunched again before the end of Sirika’s term in 2023, the airline failed to commence commercial operations before his departure from office.

OSOGBO, OSUN STATE – September 2, 2025 — A civil society group, the Osun Youth Initiative for Good Governance (OYIGG), has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olumide Egbedun, over allegations of issuing a death threat to a traditional ruler. In a statement signed by its National Convener, Dr. Akande Adeyemi, the group urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to thoroughly investigate a leaked audio recording in which a voice, alleged to be Egbedun’s, is heard threatening the Alasi of Asi, Oba Oyewale Olasunkanmi. The speaker allegedly warned the monarch in Yoruba that if he resisted political influence, he could be jailed and “might not come out alive.” The monarch officially petitioned authorities on July 29, after the audio clip went viral on July 23. Describing the Speaker’s alleged comments as “rascality of the highest order,” the OYIGG accused Egbedun of a pattern of disrespect toward traditional institutions, citing previous incidents involving: Dr. Adeyemi emphasized that “no one is above the law,” adding that the alleged threat is not just an insult to a royal father but a direct affront to democratic and cultural values in Osun State. He further warned that “power is transient” and any attempt to shield the Speaker would damage both his image and the integrity of the institutions he represents. The group has also called on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Osun State Council of Obas to ensure the matter is not swept under the carpet. In addition to legal action, the OYIGG is demanding Egbedun’s immediate impeachment, urging the state government to resist any political pressure to protect him. Efforts to reach the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, for comments have been unsuccessful as calls and text messages over the last 48 hours went unanswered.