Nigeria Air: Why Nigerian government suspended national carrier – Lai Mohammed

The Nigerian government has given reasons for the suspension of the
country's national carrier, Nigeria Air.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed disclosed that
Nigeria Air was suspended due to investor's apathy.

Recall that the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, a few
weeks ago revealed that Nigeria Air, which was supposed to begin
operations in December, has been suspended indefinitely by the federal
executive council.

However, addressing journalists on Monday at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport in Lagos, the Minister said investors who were
supposed to partner with the government on the project, backed out.

"If the understanding of government at the beginning was that the
project might be self-financing or the project would be financed by
investors and you think that such a project can no longer be sponsored
by investors, either because they are not forthcoming or such venture
can no longer be viable, the government is at the discretion to take a
decision.

"The position of government in business is to provide the enabling
environment and it is not to become the sole source of finance or
funding and in addition, there is much more than funding in trying to
get our national carrier. So, the Federal Government thinks this thing
should be stepped down now until we get a better funding structure."