Nigeria yet to name bidders for new airline

BY: Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation said reports circulating that Qatar Airways has been picked as the preferred bidder for the proposed national carrier, ‘Nigeria Air’ are not correct.

James Odaudu, the ministry’s director of public affairs, in a statement said the such false reports have the potential of discrediting the process for the establishment of the airline and could discourage interested parties, adding that only a few days ago, a ‘Request For Proposal’ was published in local and international news media.

“We wish to state that throughout the process leading to the publication of the Request for Proposal, the guiding principle has been transparency and accountability which we promised will remain till the final delivery of the project, and by which we stand.

“We wish to state categorically that no corporate entity or individual has been appointed or selected, or even preferred for the project as the process for selection has just started with the Request for Proposal.

“All interested partners and the public are therefore advised to discountenance the report and proceed with their proposals as we assure them of our unalloyed commitment to transparency and accountability till the end of the process.