ABUJA: The Nigerian Senate has rejected calls for the Federal Government to revive the proposed Nigeria Air national carrier, urging authorities instead to prioritise direct flight operations between Nigeria and China by domestic airlines.
The lawmakers called for the renegotiation and enforcement of Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with China to enable Nigerian carriers to operate direct flights to the Asian country.
The position signals a preference for strengthening existing Nigerian airlines and expanding their international route opportunities rather than reviving the controversial national carrier project.
The Senate’s position also brings renewed attention to the challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly the need to improve international connectivity, expand market access for domestic operators and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian airlines.
Under the proposal, the Federal Government is expected to review its bilateral aviation arrangements with China and ensure that the agreement provides Nigerian airlines with the opportunity to operate direct services.
Bilateral Air Services Agreements establish the framework under which airlines from two countries may operate designated international routes, subject to agreed conditions and regulatory approvals.
Renegotiating and enforcing the agreement could help address issues affecting Nigerian carriers’ access to the Chinese market.
For Nigerian airlines, direct connections to China could offer opportunities to serve passengers travelling for business, trade, education and other purposes, while potentially improving links between the two economies.
However, the actual benefits would depend on route demand, operating costs, regulatory approvals and the commercial capacity of airlines willing to operate the services.
The Senate’s rejection of calls to revive Nigeria Air represents another setback for the proposed national carrier, which has generated controversy over its development and implementation.
The project was conceived as an effort to establish a Nigerian national airline capable of improving the country’s international aviation presence.
However, its proposed ownership structure, implementation process and wider viability have attracted debate.
By advocating direct international operations for existing domestic airlines, the Senate’s position places emphasis on the potential of established carriers to expand their operations rather than pursuing another revival of the national airline initiative.
