The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied the existence of a preferred bidder for Nigeria Air stating that some interested parties have been promoting certain agendas including Qatar Airways.
James Odaudu, Director Public Affairs of the Ministry of Aviation in a statement said that there is no preferred bidder and that transparency and accountability have been the watchword.
The statement read: ”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 or selected, or even preferred for the project as the process for selection has just started with the Request for Proposal.”
Mr Odaudu added that all interested partners and the public are advised to discountenance the report and proceed with their proposals as we assure them of our 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,” he stated.
Mr Odaudu appealed to media practitioners to always confirm information from the right quarters before going to press so as to avoid misleading the public as in this particular case.