After WAW Exposé, FG Suspends ‘Nigeria Air’ Project Indefinitely

The Federal Government has indefinitely suspended ‘Nigeria Air,’ describing it as a fraudulent project that is of no benefit to Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the 3rd ministerial briefing marking the first year of the Tinubu administration in Abuja on Monday.

Keyamo stated categorically that the airline was never truly Nigerian but rather an attempt to use a foreign airline to masquerade as a national carrier.

It will be recalled that West Africa Weekly played a central role in uncovering the Nigeria Air fraud between May and June 2023. Our 2-part investigative series titled “What On Earth Is Happening In Nigeria’s Aviation Sector?” beamed a searchlight on the issue, bringing it to the forefront of consciousness in Nigeria and receiving coverage as far afield as Le Monde in France.

In the aftermath of the report, which won the Special Investigative Reporting Award at the 2023 PwC Media Excellence Awards, the newly appointed Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo had earlier this year announced the initial provisional suspension of the Nigeria Air project.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also launched an investigation into the project and other deals midwifed by former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika, culminating in his arrest and arraignment on multiple counts of fraud earlier this month.

Following the reports, Keyamo confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had launched an investigation into the fraudulent Nigeria Air deal proposed by the former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, whose case is now in court.

The story in question, titled ‘The Audacity of Fraud: The Incredible Story Of Nigeria Air‘, is featured in Chapter 19 of David Hundeyin’s book, ‘Breaking Point: A Journalist’s Quest For Salvation In Nigeria’s Chaos‘.

West Africa Weekly reported earlier in May that Sirika, his daughter Fatimah, and his son-in-law Jalal Hamma were granted conditional bail of N100 million each in a recent court case.

The family has been placed on travel restrictions pending their June 10, 11, and 20 trial dates.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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