Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has said that a new national carrier is expected to commence operation by the first quarter of the year 2022.
The minister disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Sirika noted that the new national carrier was long overdue and the private sector-run airline would be in operation by early 2022, with likely cheaper rates.
The new national carrier, he further stated would be a viable airline that would cater to millions of travellers in Nigeria and Africa.
He explained that the take of the national carrier, which was initially planned for the end of 2021 was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sirika had in October last year, revealed that the federal government had made adequate preparations and the sum of N78.96 billion had been budgeted in the 2021 Appropriation Bill to implement the plan for a new national carrier, among other projects next year.
Sirika, who made the statement during the defence of the 2021 budgetary allocation to his ministry before the Senate Committee on Aviation, said the establishment of the national carrier would be carried out in partnership with the private sector.
Sirika explained that the Aviation Roadmap that was unveiled in 2016 would get good attention in the 2021 budget, with the national carrier, already christened Nigeria Air, taking the lead.