President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is in a last-minute rush to gift Nigerians an operational national carrier after several botched attempts for the take-off of Nigeria Air. The proposed national carrier has yet to obtain a nod from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“We have everything in place, the aircraft are in place, the offices, operational centres, the staffing and everything that we need to have in place. We’re doing the last-minute checks and waiting for the issuance of the AOC and it will fly,” said aviation minister Hadi Sirika expressed, on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House correspondents, the regime’s desperation for the take-off of the proposed national airline before the end Mr Buhari’s tenure on May 29, 2023.

Mr Sirika bent on seeing through the controversial airline project insisted “it will fly” and that “it will be for the benefit of this country,” citing the size of country’s population as an economic advantage to make the airline successful once it becomes operational.

The aviation minister also claimed that the national carrier would serve as vehicle for “African integration” and “the AU Agenda 2063.”

“It’s a very important project and I must do,” added Mr Sirika. “It will happen before the end of our tenure in the next four weeks and two days.”

The minister said he would not walk back his statement that the airline would start working before the end of Mr Buhari’s regime which comes to an end officially on May 28.

“Nigeria Air Limited: I did say that we will get it going before the end of this administration and I’ve not withdrawn my words,” Mr Sirika declared.