Public affairs analyst, Gbolahan Olojede has criticized the national carrier project proposed by the federal government.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently assured Nigerians that the airline would begin operations this year as a 'parting gift' to Nigerians as he concludes his tenure.
But Olojede, speaking with Wemimo Adewuni on Morning Crossfire, said that the objectives and benefits of this project to Nigerians are yet to be disclosed.
According to him, most countries with national carriers have pulled out of the project because it offers little or no benefit, making Nigeria's decision shocking at this time.
"There are so many countries who don’t own national carriers.
"What’s the national carrier of America?
"British Airways is 100 percent privately owned, Lufthansa is 100 percent privately owned.
"These are projects that started as national carriers but the countries have sold them off.”
As Nigeria will own less than 5 percent of the project, there is nothing "national" or exciting about it, he said.
“We are going to be owning less than five percent. So is it the dividends that are exciting?
"The ownership of 49 percent is going to be by Ethiopia Airlines. So Ethiopia Airlines are going to be managing obviously.”
The public affairs analyst advised Nigeria to invest in already existing airlines if was bent on investing in an airline.
