Ibrahim Kana, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has clarified his earlier remarks regarding the revival of the Nigeria Air project.
On Tuesday, media outlets reported that Kana had stated he received a directive from President Bola Tinubu to restart the national air carrier initiative. However, in a statement released on Wednesday, Kana refuted these claims, stressing that he had received no such instruction.
“Since my inaugural statement on Monday at the hand-over ceremony, I have been inundated with inquiries about my reference to the revival of the National Carrier Project,” Kana said. He explained that he had only discussed the general vision of the administration to consider a national carrier if it proved beneficial to the country, and in accordance with the guidance of President Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I never said that there is a mandate to revive the botched Nigeria Air deal with Ethiopian airline,” Kana added, aiming to clarify any misunderstanding.
“I received no such instruction. I was only referring to the general vision of the Administration to still consider a National Carrier Project if it is favourable to the country and under the guidance and directives of Mr. President and the Honourable Minister of Aviation. I hope this clarifies all the ambiguities surrounding my earlier statement on this issue,” he said.
Kana expressed his commitment to supporting Minister Keyamo in advancing the ministry’s agenda, reaffirming his loyalty and dedication to Nigeria’s aviation sector. “I pledge absolute loyalty to the Honourable Minister and remain dedicated to working closely with him to drive the Ministry’s agenda forward,” he said.
In his statement, Kana also emphasised that the administration’s approach to aviation would be focused on innovation. “The future of aviation in Nigeria is bright, innovative, and reflective of the aspirations of our great nation,” he concluded.
This clarification comes after Minister Keyamo announced in August 2023 that the national carrier project had been suspended indefinitely, leaving the future of the initiative uncertain.
Melissa Enoch
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