The Federal Government has said that the establishment of a national carrier must go on and assured that there would be no government interference in its day-to-day activities. Responding to questions from CNN anchor, Richard Ques at the ongoing World Government Summit (WDS) in Dubai on Tuesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said there would be no government control or membership of the government on the board of the carrier and it would be totally private. “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in Africa. If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle. There are 200 million people and a rising middle class, so the propensity to fly is high. Nigeria is a candidate for national carrier,” he said. Quest interjected asking if the airline is going to be private and Sirika answered; “Private. Yes. 5 per cent government and no government stepping right in that company. There would be no government c

 P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to look for special funding for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.   Speaking at the inauguration of the new Terminal Building, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the President also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.   Further, the President tasked the Minister of Aviation to fast-track the airport concession programme, to boost aviation practice in the country and make the aviation industry reflect global standards.   The President noted that the completion and delivery of five brand new international airport terminals since 2015, which were at 11% completion level then, aligns perfectly with the Aviation Roadmap, developed in 2016, for the purposes of establishing critical infrastructure,