The inquiry into the Nigeria Air project has prompted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite Hadi Sirika, the immediate-past Minister of Aviation.
Within the next week, the minister is expected to appear before the panel to respond to inquiries about the launch of the national carrier and the claimed N3 billion spent on the aviation project.
The Nigeria Air project is the subject of an ongoing investigation, according to EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, who did not provide any other information.
He stated, “I can confirm that an investigation is currently being conducted in that regard.”
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EFCC sources, however, stated that the commission will examine the N3 billion public funds invested in the project and that EFCC had already questioned Nigerian Air executives over the recent launch.
Recall that Sirika recently disclosed on national television that the federal government has so far spent less than N3 billion on the Nigeria Air project.
The former minister said the project had a total budget of N5 billion over the past seven years, of which only N3 billion had been released as of Sunday. He made this claim during an appearance on Arise News Channel.
The N85 billion amount being thrown about as being reportedly spent on Nigeria Air is untrue and unfounded, according to Sirika, who also claimed that the majority of the money has been spent on consultancies, salaries, and administrative fees.
The minister stated that the overall market capitalization for the founding of Nigeria Air was $200 million, out of which all shareholders will pay in accordance with their shares.
He explained that SAHCO owned 15%, MRS owned 31%, Ethiopian Airlines owned 49%, and the Federal Government of Nigeria owned 5%.
Additionally, the former minister made it apparent that no monetary payments had been made by any shareholders while the deal was still being signed.
He added that the money previously spent by the federal government would be utilised as the 5% equity and that if it spent more than 5%, it would receive a return.
He added that Nigeria Air won’t have any unique tax benefits because it will be required to pay all the same taxes as other airlines.
The minister also accused Hon. Nnaji Nnoli, the outgoing chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, with requesting 5% of the airline for himself and his supporters.
