No need for a national airline, says Chidoka

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has said that Nigeria has no need of setting up a new national airline as canvassed in some quarters, saying the move would amount to sheer waste of funds and efforts.

He equally stressed that Nigeria needs to have a dedicated regulatory agency that would oversee the entire land transport system, comprising of road and rail, saying that the absence of such an agency has created room for lawlessness and flagrant violation of basic safety or contract rules.

Speaking in Abuja at the unveiling of a research institution known as Transportation Growth Initiative (TGI), Chidoka said that globally, private sector participation is what is used to drive the airline industry, adding that government need not venture into creating any.

The former minister who is chairman of TGI board of trustees, stated that government simply needs to create an enabling environment for private investors to come on board, adding that what needs to be done is for government to provide infra structure, grants among others for investors who are currently in the industry to thrive.

“I don’t believe Nigeria needs to venture into setting up a new national carrier. By the way, what do you classify as a national carrier? There are already many private sector investors who own airlines. Those are already national carriers because Nigerians own them.