Nigeria plans new national carrier

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's federal government has announced plans to establish a new national airline in 2012, which will be nine years after former national carrier Nigeria Airways was liquidated.

Aviation Minister Stella Oduah announced the plan during a chat with her followers on social networking medium 'Twitter', according to the private Punch newspaper on Wednesday.

''We are working on a national carrier that will be publicly owned, with limited financial contribution from the government,'' she said. ''Government will act as a regulator and provide an enabling environment for this objective to be achieved.''

She said the government was reviewing the models of national carriers in other countries, adding: ''We are working to deliver the national carrier by next year.''

Proponents of a national carrier to replace Nigeria Airways said it would boost Nigeria's image and help to realise the dream of making the country an air transport hub.

Several privately-owned Nigerian flag carriers have since been established since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
-0- PANA SEG 7Dec2011