A Jean Monnet professor of strategy and development, Anthony Kila, has advised new federal government to institute an independent public inquiry charged to examine and make public the conception, process negotiations, partnerships, expenses and parties involved the Nigeria Air project.
He made the call during a panel discussion anchored by Dr Ruben Abati in the company of a former managing director of the Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) Limited, Mr. Chike Ogeah and a professor of international relations and strategic studies, David Aworawo.
“Nigeria Air project has generated too much controversy and has now become a source of public concern rather than the laudable achievement it was planned to be due to the way it has been handled so far with stakeholders alleging a series of malpractices and calling attention to an unrespected court pronouncement.
“The best institutional response to give in this circumstance is for the government to create an independent and authoritative public inquiry that will allow all those who have issues and questions about the Nigeria Air project to table their concerns, give those involved in the project to respond without fear or intimidation and for all interested Nigerians to know what really happened and what to expect from the project,” he said.
Kila also urged operators and other stakeholders in the aviation and related sectors to find ways of organising themselves into a visible force that will ask the new government to shed light on the Nigeria Air project.
He said such action will be a national duty for experts and stakeholders as well as a test for the new government as a request for an independent and authoritative public inquiry into the contentious airline “will give many hopeful and neutral observers an informed insight into how the new administration wants to treat experts and stakeholders in aviation and other sectors.”
