The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the substitution of Messers Lufthansa with Airline Management Group as federal government’s adviser on establishment of a national carrier.
The federal government had in May 2017 appointed Messers Lufthansa consortium and five other advisers to help it set up a national airline and develop its aviation infrastructure.
Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the council’s meeting in Abuja, said Airline Management Group with Avia Solutions GE would join the other members of the consortium to continue providing services at the same cost. “Today, council considered a memo from transportation regarding aviation.
It was a memo that was brought to substitute a member of the consortium that will provide transaction advisory services for the establishment of National career. And that member of the consortium is Messers Lufthansa consulting. “Council considered and approved that substitution with another company called AMG (Airline Management Group) with Avia Solutions GE to join the other members of the consortium to continue providing that the same cost of N341 million,” he said.
The minister said Messers Lufthansa was substituted because “fundamentally, in the wisdom of the council, we felt that Lufthansa consulting is an appendage of the airline group and that might bring confl ict of interests. He said: “Lufthansa themselves may want to join, partner or help in the process during the procurement phase of this transaction.
And of course they are members of Star Alliance, members of One World and members of Sky team, others may feel shortchanged the person advising us set up this airline which is going to be private sector driven, is a member of an alliance which they are not part of.”
