The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has summoned the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, to an emergency meeting over the Nigeria Air project.

The Permanent Secretary was directed to come with every document that pertains to the national carrier, according to the invitation signed by the clerk of the Committee. Bassey Edem, dated May 30, 2023 with reference number: NASS/9/HR17/120.

Extract from the invitation reads, “Last Friday, the 26^th of May, 2023, the nation was a washed with viral reports and videos of the unveiling of the Nigeria Air project under very controversial circumstances, as committee of the parliament saddled with responsibility of oversighting the aviation sector of the economy we deem it necessary to be fully briefed about the project.

“Consequently l am directed to invite you to an emergency session with the committee on Thursday, first of June 2023. You are to come with all individuals/agencies connected to the project.”

However, the Permanent Secretary was said to have requested for time to be able to assemble all the necessary documents and individuals connected with the project.

Meanwhile Tuesday 7^th June has been rescheduled for the meeting based on the appeals for time by the ministry.

Some details of the documents demanded in the invitation include: full business case (FBC,) as prepared by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC); full disclosure on the ownership structure of Nigeria Air including equity contributions by individuals, organisations and Consortium outlining each contributions, names, adresses, phone numbers and their businesses’ registration certificates.

iii. All Private, Public Partnership, (PPP) agreements reached and signed with Ethiopian Airlines on the project, among others.

Meanwhile, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra state has conferred the Chairman and CEO OF Air Peace, Allen Onyema with Benefactor Award for his outstanding contributions towards the development of the hospital.

Air Peace’s spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, in a statement said the recognition of Onyema as ‘a Benefactor of the Hospital’ was announced at the commissioning of the NAUTH permanent site recently.

In reaction to the award, Onyema expressed gratitude to the Board and Management of the teaching hospital and noted that his contributions to the health institution were part of his philanthropic initiatives to the society, while stressing the need for corporates and other well-meaning individuals to engage in corporate social responsibility projects capable of impacting Nigerians.

“It is our collective responsibility to advance the cause of humanity and I urge organisations and individuals to contribute to developing our nation through strategic CSR interventions. This is what Air Peace is doing and will continue to do so for the advancement of our society,” Onyema said. (THISDAY)

•Photo combination of The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole and House of Representatives Plenary

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