Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has defended the controversial Nigeria Air project, insisting it was not a fraudulent scheme but a properly executed initiative under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Speaking in a recent interview, the two-term minister dismissed widespread claims that the national carrier was a scam, stressing that the process was transparent and duly regulated.
“Nigeria Air was a public-private partnership, fully regulated by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which issued certificates and participated actively in the process,” Sirika explained.
He rejected allegations that he mismanaged ₦100 billion, clarifying that the total budget for the project was ₦5 billion, of which only ₦3 billion was released.
“Out of that amount, over ₦1 billion remained when I left office. It is a lie that ₦100 billion was spent or lost in the process,” he said.
Nigeria Air was launched in the final days of Buhari’s presidency but quickly drew sharp criticism, particularly from domestic operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), who challenged the project in court and described it as fraudulent.
Facing EFCC Probe
Since leaving office in 2023, Sirika has faced legal troubles. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting him for alleged corruption and abuse of office, accusing him of awarding multi-billion-naira aviation contracts to companies linked to his daughter, Fatima Sirika, and his son-in-law, Jalal Hamma.
The EFCC specifically alleged that he awarded ₦2.7 billion in contracts to family-controlled firms, including Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, which reportedly received ₦1.3 billion for an unexecuted project.
On ‘Soft Landing’ Speculations
Asked whether his recent visit to the Presidential Villa was an attempt to seek protection from prosecution, Sirika dismissed the speculation, insisting his visit was purely political.
“The purpose of the meeting was to pay condolences to the President following the demise of our leader, Muhammadu Buhari, to commend him for his leadership, and to assure him of our continued support as party members,” he said.
He declined to comment further on his trial, describing it as sub judice.
“This matter is before a court of law, so it is not one for press commentary. What I can say is that I am a clean man. I worked with integrity, and the government has every instrument to verify my character,” Sirika maintained.
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