By Ime Akpan
Lagos
The minister of aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka has said that while countries like Ethiopia and Kenya have emerged as global players in aviation industry, Nigeria was yet to have a national carrier after the death of Nigeria Airways.
He said in a statement issued in Abuja that the absence of a national carrier for the country had had been responsible for fast-expanding Gulf operators such as Dubai-based Emirates to join older European players in grabbing the most lucrative long-haul traffic in Nigeria.
Consequently, he said the federal government had been holding talks with private investors on the possibility of floating a national carrier.
He said re-establishing a national carrier had become necessary to ensure growth of technical personnel in the Nigerian aviation industry, adding that the new airline would be commercially operated and handled by proven professionals.
“Conversations are on across many possible private sector organizations, both local airlines in Nigeria and then some international airlines. We are totally changing the face of four key airports. Nigeria is studying the possibility of attracting private capital to do that,” he said.
Chidoka also said Nigeria would need about least $2 billion over the next four years in rebuilding old terminals and constructing new ones.
Besides, the minister said privatisation of some operations at airports might be considered.
“It will most likely be airport management, things like collecting of revenues, managing lounges. We have to build infrastructure that match our aspiration,” said Chidoka.
It would be recalled that government had in 2013 signed a $500 million loan agreement year with the Export-Import Bank of China to fund new terminals at four airports including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.
The contract is handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The federal government is also constructing 13 cargo airports across the country for the export of perishable agricultural produce
