Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has defended the controversial Nigeria Air project, insisting it was not a scam despite widespread criticism and his ongoing corruption trial.
Sirika, who oversaw the project during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, told Channels Television on Tuesday that due process was followed under a public-private partnership arrangement.
“The total budget for the national carrier was N5 billion, the total amount released was N3 billion, and I left the ministry with over N1 billion,” he said, dismissing allegations that N100 billion had been misappropriated.
Nigeria Air, unveiled in 2023 shortly before Buhari left office, faced opposition from domestic airlines and industry stakeholders who branded it fraudulent. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) challenged the project in court.
Sirika now faces charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses him of awarding N2.7 billion in aviation contracts to companies controlled by his daughter and son-in-law. Investigators say one of the firms, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, received N1.3 billion for a contract that was never delivered.
On whether his visit to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday was an attempt to seek political protection, Sirika said he had only gone to offer condolences following Buhari’s recent death and to reaffirm loyalty to the ruling party.
“Unfortunately, this matter is in the court of law, and it is not a matter that should be subjected to the press. I am an immaculate man,” he said.
Sirika’s trial has intensified scrutiny of Buhari-era infrastructure projects, many of which were launched but left incomplete, raising questions about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public-private partnerships.
