Nigeria Air.
The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flight operations and every other actions with respect to Nigeria Air.
The House also urged the ministry to ensure that all individuals groups or organisations involved in the Nigeria Air Take-Off are prosecuted and sanctioned.
The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nnoli Nnaji gave the directive during a meeting with stakeholders in the Nigeria air project in Abuja.
He voiced concerns about the launch of Nigeria Air despite an existing court order restraining such action.
Mr Nnaji also expressed dismay at the role played by Ethiopian Airline in the process, saying it does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between the two nations.
“A careful review of the process indicates that the exercise is highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community,” he said.
“We want to put on record that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria
Air or anything related thereof,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, insisted that Nigeria Air was not launched but unveiled, saying the Ministry followed due process in the unveiling.
He, however, reminded the meeting that Airline Operators were in court on the project and that the matter should not be discussed.
The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema described the Air Nigeria Project as a ruse, saying the idea of national carrier was outdated and countries no longer get involved in it.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade, Daniel Adejo and Tony Okerafor