The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ibrahim Kana, has clarified his earlier remarks regarding the revival of the National Carrier Project, addressing widespread speculation and inquiries.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kana sought to clear up any ambiguities surrounding comments he made during the ministry’s handover ceremony earlier in the week.
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, I never said that there is a mandate to revive the botched Nigeria Air deal with Ethiopian Airlines.
“I received no such instruction. I was only referring to the general vision of the administration to 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.”
Kana’s remarks follow heightened public interest in the future of Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly in the wake of controversies surrounding the Nigeria Air project.
He reiterated his commitment to supporting the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in advancing the ministry’s goals.
“I pledge absolute loyalty to the Honourable Minister and remain dedicated to working closely with him to drive the Ministry’s agenda forward. Together, we will ensure that the future of aviation in Nigeria is bright, innovative, and reflective of the aspirations of our great nation,” Kana added.
This clarification follows his earlier statement upon his appointment as Permanent Secretary, where he had reportedly mentioned the imminent revival of the national carrier project.
During that address, Kana outlined two key objectives assigned to him by President Bola Tinubu.
“While receiving my deployment letter, I was given very clear instructions with two tasks to achieve within this period, by His Excellency, Mr President.
“One, to ensure that Air Nigeria comes to be. Two, to sanitise our airports across the country. All of us will agree that there is no better time to have an Air Nigeria than now,” Kana stated at the time.
