The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Hajya Binta Bello, yesterday inaugurated a Ministerial Committee on the Establishment of a National Carrier with a charge to the members to pursue the assignment with vigour in view of its national importance.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the inauguration of the Committee became imperative in view of the interest shown in the venture by President Muhammadu Buhari and his recent marching directives to the ministry to immediately commence the process of establishing a national carrier.

Hajiya Binta Bello said the establishment of a national carrier is not only justified by economic considerations, but also strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potentials.

The Ministerial Committee has a former Managing Director of Discovery Airlines, Captain Mohammed Abdulsalam, as Chairman. It is charged with reviewing previous consultants’ submissions and recommendations on a national carrier, reviewing the report on the failure of the defunct Nigeria Airways and failed private airlines.

The Committee also has the mandate to consult widely with stakeholders on the establishment of a national carrier, including interested international partners on the establishment of a national carrier on the basis of Public Private Partnership model.

Hajiya Binta Bello also charged the Committee to invite the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to determine the debt profile of domestic airlines to serve as a guide in its recommendations, and to develop the optimum model for a national carrier.

Responding on behalf of the members, the chairman, Captain Abdulsalam, regretted the issues that led to collapse of the defunct Nigeria Airways. He promised that they would develop an economically robust model that would stand the test of time and meet the aspirations of Nigeria as a nation.

The committee has four weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.

•Photo shows Committee Chairman, Captain Mohammed Abdulsalam.

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