Nigeria’s instant beyond Aviation Minister who has been beneathneath the hearthplace of the Nigeria Air venture has stated that he spent almost N3bn to lease consultants, pay salaries, and cater for the Abuja workplace of Nigerian Air.
Sirika additionally denied any wrongdoing and embezzlement of N85bn allegedly intended for the venture.
The former minister clarified Arise TV on Sunday after numerous calls have been made for his arrest and research into his dealing withinside the countrywide career.
“The marketing strategy had $200m because of the capital. They pay the same to the shareholding they have. Currently, they may be signing the shareholder’s agreement. Once they end the documentation of the shareholder’s agreement, they signal after which they pay,” the minister stated clarifying how plenty the shareholders paid on the time he left the workplace.
He added, “Of course, they can’t take shareholding on paper, everybody has to pay besides the Federal Government’s 5 consistent with cent so that you can be in kind. Remember, the Federal Government has been spending cash on this mission. So, all of its offerings and what it’s been doing could be quantified.
“If it’s far same as five in line with cent, then they may take five consistent with cent if it’s miles less, the provider can be quantified and made as much as five in line with cent.
“In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, all the monies voted and budgeted for the countrywide service changed into N5bn. But all that became launched is withinside the neighbourhood of approximately N3bn, now no longer N85bn and all the N3bn has now been expended as of the time I left the workplace.
“What turned into performed with the cash turned into not anything but transaction advisory offerings, the AOC process, salaries, consultancy offerings and the places of work in Abuja. No agreement become given via way of means of Hadi Sirika or the management on the time. These are the matters that the cash become used for.”
He additionally challenged Nigerians to use extra information the use of the Freedom of Information Act from the Ministry.
On May 26, Sirika released Nigeria Air in opposition to a status courtroom docket order halting the service. Sirika’s tenure ended on May 29th, 2023.
Before the Senate Committee on Aviation, Dapo Olumide the Managing Director of Nigeria Air admitted that the ET-APL is a Boeing 737 eight Max chartered from Ethiopian Airlines.
The Senate stated the Nigeria Air Project is surrounded by secrecy.
The Senate resolved, “Direct the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its companions withinside the Nigeria Air mission to right now drop flights operations and each different motion regarding the Nigeria Air;
“Urge our new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President and C-in-C, to as a remember of urgency represent a high-degree Presidential Committee to adopt a holistic Review of the Processes of the entire Nigeria Air task and recommendation the authorities at the manner forward.
“Ensure that every one individual, group, or groups concerned withinside the arguable shenanigan named “Nigeria Air Take-Off” are introduced to the book, prosecuted and sanctioned.”
Clarifying further, the embattled former minister stated “It is withinside the creativeness of Roland Iyayi (former MD of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) withinside the National Assembly that he stated N85bn became budgeted and spent and after they requested him, he stated NBS. I assume NBS need to be wondered if they have it on their statistics that the cash has been spent.
“The general amount of cash that has been spent from 2016 to 2023 is most effective N5bn, now no longer all became launched, most effective approximately N3bn became launched and as of the time I left, now no longer it all has been utilised.”
Sirika admitted the plane that become utilized in launching the Nigeria Air become a chartered plane from Ethiopian Air.
But he denied paying any charge for the plane.
He stated, “First and foremost, the AOC owned
with the aid of using Ethiopian Airlines is understood to Nigerian legal guidelines and the NCAA. They are approved to be available as both scheduled passengers, chartered or cargo.
“They got here as chartered. Chartered does now no longer imply anyone paid. The authorities did now no longer pay a dime for that to be available and no sales passengers have been going out. That might be a crime and wouldn’t have been allowed.
“Their advertising and marketing techniques as fairness companions got here to do the disclosing on a unique allowance that is referred to as a charter. If everybody has to pay for it, it might be Ethiopian Airlines, now no longer Nigeria.”
