Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) is calling for the arrest of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over the “fraudulent” Nigeria Air, according to a statement by the group’s coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.
“HURIWA calls for immediate action by the EFCC to investigate and prosecute the ex-minister for fraudulent declaration of the project by both chambers” “Sirika must answer questions on the missing N85 billion spent on the project.” HURIWA described the inauguration of Nigeria Air by Sirika on May 26 as suspicious because it was rushed and on the last day of the former president’s tenure. Captained by the interim chief executive. “Dapo Olumide informed MPs that the aircraft shown as Nigeria Air belonged to Ethiopian Airlines, unlike Sirika who claimed it belonged to Nigeria,” HURIWA said.
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The government launched a new national carrier in July 2018 at the Farnborough Air Show in London. Over eight years, under Mr Sirika’s leadership, the Buhari regime spent over N85 billion on Nigeria Air, as per data from the National Bureau of Statistics and Budgetary Allocations between 2016 and 2023.
In meetings with Mr Olumide, the Senate and House committees on Aviation agreed Nigeria Air’s launch was a fraud. He confirmed the Boeing 737-800 used was a chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines. Plane went back to Ethiopian Airlines.
