By Matthew Denis
Air passengers at the Ilorin International Airport have lauded the Federal Government over the proposed national carrier.
Recall that the Minister of State for Aviation , Hadi Sirika had at a recent meeting in Abuja, disclosed that the national carrier would commence December 24 , 2018, replacing the defunct Nigeria Airways liquidated in 2004, and resolve capacity and efficiency issues on local, , regional and international routes.
Speaking to Pilot Aviation at the weekend, the passengers stressed that the initiative will not only bring about efficiency in airlines operation but also reduce aviation fare in the country.
A passenger, Mr. Fadipe George said ” I see the national carrier as a good omen that will force other commercial airline operators in the country to sit up in terms of their services.
He stressed that there will be stiff competition among airlines and passengers will have opportunity for alternatives on different routes across the country
Another passenger, Dr. Marcello Nwosu said, ” I don’t know how realistic the idea of national carrier will be but I’m opinionated that the move will reduce airfare charges by local airlines.
Also, Engr. Zainab Abdulmalik, stressed that the national carrier is a good idea but noted that the Federal Government needed to study the operations of other African countries like Ethiopia Airways, South African Airways (SAA), among others.
The Rector of International Aviation College (IAC), Capt. Abdulkarim AbdulMumini, stressed that the government had exhibited every sign of transparency in its plans to give Nigeria a new airline unlike the past governments.
The Rector, who was a former staff of Nigeria Airways, explained that since the unceremonious liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, every attempt made by successive governments to re-establish a new airline failed because the plans were shrouded in secrecy and without political will to deliver.
He said, “I can tell you that this government has the political will to give Nigeria a new national carrier because it has gone through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where it was debated and approval given.”
