Fani-Kayode defends Obasanjo over Nigeria Airways liquidation
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode defends Olusegun Obasanjo over the Nigeria Airways liquidation, blaming its collapse on pre-1999 mismanagement an Read More:…
Nigeria Airways, once the country's national carrier, was liquidated in 2004 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration after decades of accumulated debt, mismanagement and failed privatisation attempts. The airline's collapse left thousands of former staff without pensions and entitlements for years, a grievance that has periodically resurfaced in Nigerian political debate and is often cited as a cautionary tale in discussions about state-owned enterprises and aviation policy.
The dispute has now drawn in current political figures, with Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo reportedly accusing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of hypocrisy over the airline's liquidation and the delayed settlement of workers' entitlements, given his role in the Obasanjo government at the time. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has pushed back, defending Obasanjo and attributing the airline's demise to mismanagement predating 1999. The exchange reflects broader, unresolved disagreements over which administrations and individuals bear responsibility for the carrier's collapse, with coverage so far focused on the political back-and-forth rather than any new resolution for affected workers.