Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and former aide to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, have responded to claims made by former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, regarding the Nigeria Air project.

Sirika had recently defended the project, saying it followed due process and was regulated by the Infrastructure Concessioning Regulatory Commission (ICRC)..

His coming out in defence of the project over two years after leaving office has generated concern, as he had maintained silence on the matter even before leaving office.

More concerned that he had himself come out to defend the botched project by himself when the matter was already in court.

However, Keyamo and Akande have raised concerns about the project’s transparency and legitimacy.

Keyamo had suspended the project due to a lack of transparency and confirmed that the entire process, including the partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, would be thoroughly investigated.

Akande alleged that Sirika defied a presidential directive to shelve the Nigeria Air launch due to a lack of due process and transparency.

According to Akande, the former minister was determined to launch the project despite concerns raised by the presidency.

He emphasised that the former president Muhammadu Buhari has at no time been in support of the project and later directed Sirika to Vice President Osinbajo, who also picked holes in the project.

The controversy surrounding Nigeria Air highlights concerns about governance, transparency, and accountability in government projects.

The project’s fate remains uncertain as investigations continue, with many questioning the motives behind Sirika’s actions and the legitimacy of the project.

With the current minister committed to investigating the matter, the truth behind the Nigeria Air project may soon come to light. (Nigerian Tribune)