Recall that after leaving his position, Sirika has faced
criticism for the suspended Nigeria Air project.
The national carrier was unveiled by Sirika just three days
before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and has
been met with controversy.
Keyamo made this revelation in an interview on Channels
Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
He said, “The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a
criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
Meanwhile, the minister said no local airline would be
designated as a national airline, stressing that “we will establish a proper
national carrier.”
Recall that, in August, shortly after he was sworn in as
minister, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), faulted the deal by
Sirika and suspended the whole arrangement to enable a proper audit of
contracts.
The Nigeria Air was unveiled days before the end of the
administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria’s
national carrier, Nigeria Air, had forced veteran aviator Girma Wake to resign
as Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines.
The then Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt.
Dapo Olumide, had said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national
career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.
He added that the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian
Airlines after the unveiling on the last day of the Buhari administration in
May.
Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on
Aviation had both labelled the launch of Nigeria Air as a fraud.
Meanwhile, Keyamo said the relocation of the headquarters of
the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos will help
the agency save over N500 million on travels alone.
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