By Daniel Eteghe
Managing Director of AirGold Aviation, Engr. Ifeanyi Okocha has affirmed that the Federal Government can establish a formidable national carrier as the pride of the country with the sum of N985 billion.

Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) on behalf of a group of aviation professionals while contributing to the debate on the establishment of a national flag carrier for the country, Mr. Okocha pointed out that when the national flag carrier comes into existence, it would create an additional 29,500 jobs for many unemployed Nigerians.

Okocha, an aeronautic engineer, said that he and his team of aviation professionals have carried out a feasibility study which will soon be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that the study carried out revealed that it would require an estimated N985 billion to kick-start the project.

He further explained that when the carrier is established, it will be called ‘Nigeria Airlines’, adding that the proposed carrier by the group will not be managed  by civil servants with civil service structure, but professionally by professionals.

He said that the civil service mentality was one of the reasons why the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) died.

“If Nigeria Airways Limited was managed professionally; the national carrier would still be operating till today. But it was run in a civil service manner,” he said.

Mr. Okocha added that as at the time NAL was liquidated, the national carrier had four large maintenance departments, which could have been converted to Maintenance Overhaul and Repair (MRO) facilities.

He pointed out that instead of closing down the MROs which had denied the Federal Government the opportunity of generating revenue from the facility said that it should have been converted to MRO company as this would afford airlines in Nigeria and other international airlines opportunity to be doing their C and D checks in the country.

The MD of AirGold further explained that the feasibility study carried out by the group indicated that the national flag carrier when established, would provide about 29,500,00 jobs out of which 16,000 will be graduates while 8,000 will be aviation professionals.

He added that 2,960 will be junior staff, management staff 400, while 20 will be top management staff and 120 expatriates.

The proposed national flag carrier, he said will commence flight operations with 48 airplanes, adding that 12 months after it commenced operations, the carrier will introduce aeronautic industrial section, which will employ additional 10,000 staff that will bring the total employees figure to 29,500.

He said that the group was relying on the Federal Government to fund the project which will be in form of loans, while it directs the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to supervise the project.

According to him, “What the Federal Government needed to do is to invite the ministers of aviation, finance and the Central Bank Governor to take a look at the project.

On how the money will be repaid by the group if the Federal Government keys into the project, Okocha said, “We will pay back within 10 years period and within three years of commencing operations, the carrier will be taken to the Nigeria Stock Exchange.”