Ex-Minister Sirika Denies Nigeria Air Fraud Allegations

Former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has rejected claims that the Nigeria Air project, launched under the Buhari administration, was fraudulent.

                    

Appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Sirika insisted the project was a public-private partnership regulated by the Infrastructure Concessioning Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and followed due process.

The former minister dismissed reports that he mismanaged ₦100 billion on the project.

“It is a lie that I spent ₦100 billion, which was lost in the process. The total budget for the national carrier was ₦5 billion, the total amount released was ₦3 billion, and I left the ministry with over ₦1 billion,” he said.

Sirika added that although he usually avoids commenting, he may provide more details in a book about his time in office.

• The airline was launched in May 2023, shortly before former President Buhari left office.

• It faced widespread criticism from the public and industry stakeholders, many of whom labeled it fraudulent.

• Questions around transparency and investor partnerships fueled the controversy.

Sirika is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

• In May 2024, he was charged with aviation contract fraud worth over ₦19 billion.

• The case also involves his brother and companies linked to him.

• The EFCC alleges irregularities in contracts awarded during his tenure.

The fate of Nigeria Air remains uncertain, with the project stalled amid ongoing investigations. The controversy underscores Nigeria’s struggle to establish a viable national carrier while balancing transparency, accountability, and investor trust.