According to him, there was no doubt that the issue of national carrier for Nigeria was very close to the hearts of both the government and the people, saying that that was why the government had taken the option of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the belief that it was the only way to deliver a national carrier that would stand the test of time.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has received the Outline Business Case Certificate of Compliance from the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr Chidi Izuwah for the proposed new national carrier for Nigeria.
Sirika also said that the December 24, 2018 date for the take-off of the new carrier was sacrosanct.
Speaking in Abuja during the receipt of the certificate from ICRC, Sirika said the presentation of the Certificate of Compliance was an official approval of the process through which the project had gone so far.
According to him, there was no doubt that the issue of national carrier for Nigeria was very close to the hearts of both the government and the people, saying that that was why the government had taken the option of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the belief that it was the only way to deliver a national carrier that would stand the test of time.
He commended the efforts of the ICRC Director-General and his team in ensuring that the national carrier project had remained on track through the observation of all legal aid regulatory frameworks.
Sirika also expressed satisfaction with the way the Transaction Advisers (TA) had carried out their assignments with utmost diligence and timeliness, assuring that the project would delivered world-class in operation and management.
He used the occasion to debunk claims that the national carrier would sound the death knell for other airlines operating in the country.
Nigeria, with a population of over 180million people with so many un-serviced routes offered more than enough space for all serious airlines to operate profitably, he said.
Speaking earlier, the Director General ICRC, Izuwah said the presentation of the Certificate of Compliance was an official green light to proceed with the procurement process.
He said that his commission, in granting the certificate reviewed the Project Structuring Report, also known as the Outline Business Case, in line with the ICRC Act of 2005.
According Izuwah, the certificate was granted on the condition that the Federal government has committed to leveraging on private sector capital and expertise towards the establishment of the national carrier through the provision of a Viability Gap Funding for the project.
He stated other conditions for granting the Certificate of Compliance to an official commitment to zero contribution to airline management decisions and zero government, control, warning that any attempt to impose government control would invalidate the Certificate and the entire process.