I Never Mentioned Qatar Airways As Preferred Bidder As Process Is Underway-Aligbe

No Preferred Bidder Yet- FG

'Capt. Olumide A Competent Hand To Run An Airline'

 

The Managing Director of Belujane Konsult, Mr. Chris Aligbe said there was no time when he said Qatar Airways is the preferred bidder because the process is still ongoing.

 

“All I said was that I preferred a legacy carrier and I never mentioned Qatar Airways because the process is ongoing and this kind of report is not good for the integrity and transparency of the process. I gave analysis that Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish were interested”

 

“Also, I am not one of the driver of National Carrier. How can I be one of the drivers? I am only a supporter and I have been supporting it since Captain Mohammed Joji through International Finance Corporation (IFC) IN 2001, 2002, during Stella Oduah as minister and up till this time. I have been just a supporter. I do not have employment with the ministry of Aviation and I don’t consult for the minister n this.”

 

In a swift response fro the Ministry of Aviation which debunked the report on Qatar Airways as preferred bidder. “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,” said James Odaudu,Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation. “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. 

 

Odaudu said 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.

 

“All interested partners and the public are therefore 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.  

 

On appointment of Captain Dapo Olumide as the interim Manager for the Nigeria Air as confirmed by the Ministry of Aviation, Aligbe said: “If this is true,then they have made the most point-blank appointment. Today, he (Capt. Olumide) will stand the tallest among those who have the competence to run an airline. He stands tall over and above all of them. If the appointment has been made, then,I commend the Minister for making the right choice.”

 

Aligbe alluded to the fact that he did not see the appointment coming. I did not see it coming. Though I have heard the minister mentioned an interim manager and I said if an interim appointment was to be made, a great choice  must be made and he has not played around with it at all. He made the best choice that can ever be made in our country as at today.

 

He continued on Capt. Oluide. “With the type of person Captain Olumide is, if he knows that he is not a good step, he would not have accepted the appointment. It is true, he would not stick his neck out for it if he is aware. He came out first after an interview for the position of Managing Director for Nigeria Airways when Chief Olusegun Agagu became minister. They advertised the position, although it was zoned to the West. That time, he was in Aerocontractors as the Deputy Managing Director. He attended the interview and he came top. The minister said Thank God you are here. He then ask the minister then if he can make some changes and the minister said no and he refused to take the job.”

 

“If you check his past record in Virgin Nigeria, When he took over Virgin Nigeria, it was at a point when Richard Branson has pulled out and the airline was going to collapse because he (Branson) withdrew his technical support. Olumide immediately contacted Ethiopian Airline and got technical support from ET. That was why NCAA did not withdraw the AOC then. He started repositioning of the airline and he was doing a great job until Jimoh Ibrahim took over the airline and he (Olumide) resigned immediately because he saw what was coming. He is serious fellow, knowledgeable and competent. He has all that it takes to run an airline.”