By Adedapo Adesanya
Emirates Airlines has made an offer to partner with Nigeria in its quest to establish a national carrier.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Mr James Odaudu, Special Assistant to Mr Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, said the President of Emirates Airlines, Mr Tim Clark, made the offer during a panel discussion at the Dubai Expo 2020.
Mr Clark said Emirates Airlines would be happy to help if assistance was requested in starting Nigeria’s national carrier, adding that it would elicit requests for clarification, mostly from the media and industry stakeholders in Nigeria.
Mr Clark spoke in support of the Nigerian aviation minister’s position that Nigeria had a compelling need to establish a national carrier, going by certain indices.
“Of course, Nigeria needs a national airline. There is an enormous business case for the national carrier. Nigerians are seeking to travel all over the world. Nigeria is a powerhouse in Africa.
“We are very interested in flying there because it is a rich nation in terms of demand for services,” Mr Clark was quoted as saying.
On his part, Mr Sirika said the offer by Emirates Airlines could not be anything other than an endorsement of the need, the zeal, and the process for the national carrier project.
He said Emirates Airlines’ move was also an expression of confidence of the international aviation community in the commitment by Nigeria to own its own airline.
He said the offer was an encouragement to the many bidders currently preparing their Public-Private Partnership (PPP) bids for Nigeria Air in response to the Request for Proposal advertised by Nigeria.
Mr Sirika assured that the process for the acquisition of the Air Operator’s Certificate and the Air Transport License was well on course for the expected launch date of the national carrier that Nigerians would be proud of.
“As has been repeatedly stated, the whole process for the establishment of the national carrier and all the projects under the government’s aviation roadmap has been guided by the principles of transparency and accountability.
“Boldly speaking, this will remain till the final delivery of the project,” the Minister said.
The Expo 2020 was a World Expo hosted by Dubai from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
It was originally scheduled for October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021, but due to COVID-19 disruptions, organisers kept the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes in spite of its postponement.
This is the latest development in the country’s plan to establish its long dream of a national carrier. Previously it opened the door for private investors.
The FG noted that private sector partners are expected to comprise – Nigerian Financial and Institutional Investors (minimum 46 per cent shares) so that the total Nigerian shareholding will hold a minimum of 51 per cent of the shares of Nigeria Air (including the 5 per cent non-interactive FGN share), as required by international laws for a national carrier.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
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