Buhari Wants The Establishment Of A National Airline

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Aviation to expedite action on the establishment of a new national airline for the country.

The President gave the directive while receiving briefing from officials of the Aviation Ministry, led by the Permanent Secretary, Binta Bello, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the briefing, Bello said the President was worried about Nigeria not having a national air carrier and has given instruction for new one to be established.

She also said the President was briefed on the challenges domestic airlines were facing despite federal government’s N300 billion intervention fund designed to boost their operations.

The airlines, she said, were hugely indebted to regulatory agencies under the Aviation Ministry, including other factors that have left some of the airlines still struggling to maintain optimum operational capabilities.

According to her, the four state-of-the-art terminals being constructed with Chinese Bank loan will be ready by first quarter of 2016.