The Federal Ministry of Aviation has debunked claims in some quarters that Qatar Airways has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the National Carrier.
A statement by the ministry’s director, public affairs, Mr. James Odaudu, stressed that such an unfounded report is capable of discrediting the process for the establishment of the airline.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some media to the effect that Qatar Airways has been chosen as the preferred bidder for Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air.
“The report, coming just two days after the issuance of a Request for Proposal which was published in local and international news media, is not only false but capable of discrediting the process for the establishment of the airline and discouraging interested parties.
“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, selected or even preferred for the project as the process for selection has just started with the Request for Proposal,” he said.
Odaudu urged all interested partners and the public to discountenance the report and proceed with their proposals. He assured them of the ministry’s unalloyed commitment to transparency and accountability till the end of the process.
“Our driving force is the commitment of the Buhari administration to bequeath to the country a national carrier that Nigerians would be proud of and our determination and commitment to it remain stoic.
“Finally, we wish to appeal to media practitioners to always confirm information from the right quarters before going to press, to avoid misleading the public,” he added.
