There are strong indications that the Federal Government may not have selected equity partners for the 95% equity of the about to the floated national carrier – Nigeria Air
Media reports indicated that a document sourced from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, which debunked speculations in certain section of the social media that the partner had been selected,showed that that both strategic equity partner and minority strategic partner had not been selected for the carrier.
According to the information from the document, what government is currently doing is the international bidding process to select a minority strategic equity partner which has not be completed.
The document clarified: “Once the Request for Qualification and Information Memorandum document is completed for the procurement phase, these documents will be released to the public for an open competitive international bidding process to select a minority strategic equity partner who will invest and operate the national carrier. The public will know more.
“So in all cases, majority ownership in equity terms will be Nigerian, while management of the national carrier will be concessioned via a renewable long-term operate and maintain concession agreement to the minority private sector strategic equity partner to be selected via an open competitive international two-stage PPP procurement exercise.
“For general information and awareness, the national carrier is being procured as a PPP. Nigeria’s PPP process has three phases – one is an internal government bankability process, the business case phase and the other two externals.
“As part of efforts to make airlines viable in Nigeria, the ministry is making moves to have the National Assembly pass a fly Nigeria Act. This act will require that anybody travelling on a ticket bought with public funds must travel on a Nigerian carrier unless the route is not served by a Nigerian carrier.
“However, with your private funds, you can do as you like. Many countries, including America, has such as Act.
“As we delivered on the Abuja runway repairs, so shall we on the national carrier and we will not bow to falsehood. While we provide the clarifications below for record purposes, only delivering a world-class national carrier is good enough for Nigerians.
“This will stop the export of jobs and exploitation of Nigerian air travelers. We are not deterred but we are focused on our target and mission.
Based on international requirements on ownership of airlines, the proposed national carrier must be majorly owned by Nigerians to enjoy the benefits and privileges accruing to national carriers.
