The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation headed by Nnolim Nnaji has summoned Emmanuel Meribole, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation to an emergency meeting over the Nigeria Air project.
The emergency meeting according to an invitation for the meeting signed by Bassy Edem, the committee clerk dated May 30 2023 and referenced NASS/9/HR17/120, the Permanent Secretary was directed to come with every document and personnel connected with the National Carrier.
Excerpt from the invitation reads, “Last Friday, May 26, 2023, the nation was awash with viral reports and videos of the unveiling of the Nigeria Air project under very controversial circumstances, as a committee of the parliament saddled with the responsibility of oversight the aviation sector of the economy we deem it necessary to be fully briefed about the project.
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“Consequently, l am directed to invite you to an emergency session with the committee on Thursday, first of June 2023. You are to come with all individuals/agencies connected to the project.”
However, the Permanent Secretary was said to have requested time to be able to assemble all the necessary documents and individuals connected with the project. Meanwhile, Tuesday 7th June has been rescheduled for the meeting based on the appeals for time by the ministry.
Details of the documents demanded in the invitation include the followings:
Full business case (FBC,) as prepared by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC), full disclosure on the ownership structure of Nigeria Air including equity contributions by individuals, organisations, and Consortium outlining each contribution, name, address, phone number, and their businesses’ registration certificates.
Other documents in life all Private, Public Partnership, (PPP) agreements reached and signed with Ethiopian Airlines on the project, all Private Public partnership agreements reached and signed with other parties with stakes in Nigeria Air and all documents, permits, and receipts were relevant to the subject matter.
More information requested are shareholders’ agreements, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) agreement and any other documents that will assist the committee in this assignment.
