Chidoka recommends national airline operated by private sector

As a result of Nigeria’s vibrant domestic market, the country deserves to have its own national/flag carrier, the Federal Government has said.

It says the national carrier should be one that is driven by the private sector, adding that the incoming government should look at ways of making this a reality.

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, said this on Friday while inaugurating two lounges for pilots and international protocol officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Chidoka said, “On Monday when I’m in Lagos, I will be talking to the industry about some of my ideas with respect to moving forward in the industry. One of the things we want to propose is that Nigeria indeed needs a flag carrier.

“This is because we are a country that has a strong domestic market and we have local airlines operating here. So we believe that the national carrier, that is private sector driven, will be the way to go for Nigeria. And we are looking forward to that.”

He stated that the incoming government should think of intermodal form of transportation in Nigeria by devising ways of making the ministries of transport, works and aviation work together in making this a reality.

Chidoka called on directors and chief executives of parastatals in the ministry to advise the incoming government to make sure that it completes ongoing projects in the sector and not to fall to the temptation of embarking on new ones immediately.

The minister also spoke on the need to have more Nigerian pilots employed by airlines operating in the country before giving out such jobs to their foreign competitors.

he added, “I didn’t say Nigerian pilots are not employable. I said that there is a discrimination against Nigerian pilots and I have made a policy statement, which states that come June 1, we expect every cockpit in Nigeria to have a Nigerian pilot. So I do hope that my successors will implement it fully.

“Every airline in Nigeria that wants to operate in Nigeria must have a Nigerian pilot in its cockpit.”