Despite Court Order, Sirika Says Nigeria Air Will Fly Before May 29

The minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika has insisted that Nigeria Air would fly before the end of the current administration.

Sirika’s reassurance comes despite an order by a federal high court in Lagos restraining Nuhu Musa, director-general of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), from issuing an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to the proposed national carrier.

The suit was filed by a group of domestic airlines seeking to stop the federal government from partnering with Ethiopian Airlines to float the national carrier.

Addressing journalists after the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday, Sirika said the issuance of the AOC was expected in earnest.

“We have everything in place, the aircrafts are in place, the offices, operational centers, the staffing and everything that we need to have in place. We’re doing the last minute checks and waiting for the issuance of the AOC and it will fly,” he said.