Fani-Kayode defends Obasanjo, says Nigeria Airways 'mess' predated his 1999 return
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria's Ambassador-designate to South Africa, countered Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo's claims that Obasanjo liquidated Nigeria Airways without compensating workers. Fani-Kayode stated Obasanjo inherited the airline's decline when he returned to power in 1999, emphasizing it was "not of Obasanjo's making."
Speaking on X Thursday, Fani-Kayode - who served as Aviation Minister under Obasanjo from 2006 - detailed Nigeria Airways' condition: 32 functional planes with skilled staff when Obasanjo left office in 1979, but by 1999 only one non-functional plane remained amid massive debts. He attributed the collapse to corruption during the 20-year interim period.
This historical context matters as current officials debate aviation sector performance and worker compensation. Understanding whether Obasanjo's administration caused or inherited Nigeria Airways' problems informs evaluations of past leadership and current reform efforts in Nigeria's aviation industry.
Will you assess Keyamo's allegations against Fani-Kayode's historical timeline when forming opinions on Nigeria's aviation sector accountability, or seek additional evidence about the airline's decline during military and interim civilian rule?