The Nigerian Senate has thrown out proposals to revive contracts tied to the controversial Nigeria Air project, insisting that salvaging the defunct arrangement is an unproductive venture. At the same time, the upper legislative chamber declared that the country urgently requires a functional national carrier to represent Nigeria on international routes.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision following a plenary debate on a motion raised by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, according to TheNigeriaLawyer. Lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to abandon the old deals and design a fresh, workable structure to establish a new flag carrier.
The abandoned Nigeria Air project was unveiled during the closing days of former President Muhammadu Buhari's government in May 2023 under then Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika. The scheme quickly ran into controversy regarding its ownership structure, procurement processes, and the aircraft used for the demonstration flight. Sirika, his daughter Fatima Sirika, her husband Jalal Hamma, and their firm Al Buraq Global Investment are currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over aviation-related contract fraud and gratification allegations in court.
Alongside the call for a new airline, the lawmakers demanded a review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and China to grant Nigerian operators direct access to the Asian country. Leading the debate, Monguno pointed out that direct routes would lower travel time, help businesses, retain foreign currency, and position international airports in Lagos and Abuja as central transit hubs between West Africa and East Asia.
Akpabio criticised the one-sided implementation of air pacts, noting that while Chinese airlines operate flights straight to Nigeria, Nigerian passengers heading to China must book transit stops through foreign carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. Remembering the era of Nigeria Airways, Akpabio reflected on how the defunct national airline once operated dozens of aircraft across global routes.
Other lawmakers, including Delta North representative Ned Nwoko and Bauchi Central senator Abdul Ningi, urged the Federal Government to stop relying entirely on private airlines and address the trade imbalances between both nations. The Senate passed the motion through a voice vote, mandating its committees on aviation and foreign affairs to monitor enforcement and deliver a progress report in four weeks.
