ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has stated that the unveiling of Nigeria Air a few days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was a strategic marketing move.
He also revealed that the unveiling was orchestrated by the national carrier’s shareholders, not the federal government.
Sirika clarified this while appearing on a program on Arise TV on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
He noted that the aircraft which landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for the unveiling had been brought by the equity partners as part of their marketing strategy.
“It is their own marketing strategy as equity partners that they came to do this unveiling on a special allowance which is called a chartered flight. Chartered does not mean they paid for it. If there is anybody that paid for it, it would have been the Ethiopian Airline. No penny is paid,” Sirika explained.
The former minister also disclosed, “The owners consulted me and decided to do the unveiling as a part of marketing strategy.”
Addressing the developments in the aviation sector during his tenure, Sirika proudly claimed, “The aviation sector became the fastest-growing sector in Nigeria during my time. The airlines were doubled.”
