There are strong indications that British
business tycoon, Sir Richard Branson, is still willing to invest in the
Nigerian aviation sector, notwithstanding the sour experience the airline
mogul had with the Federal Government over the former Virgin Nigeria airline.
One of the top officials of Virgin Atlantic Airways said on the sidelines of a
media conference recently that Branson would still be willing to invest in the
country’s aviation sector. Branson, founder of the famous Virgin Group, had
partnered with the Federal Government to establish Virgin Nigeria following the
liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, by the Olusegun
Obasanjo administration. The relationship between the Federal Government and
Branson however, went sour after Nigeria’s
aviation authorities forcefully stopped Virgin Nigeria’s domestic operations at
the international wing of the Lagos
airport. The development, Branson said, contradicted major provisions of the Memorandum
of Understanding he signed with the Nigerian government before the
establishment of Virgin Nigeria. Branson subsequently pulled out his interests
in the former Virgin Nigeria. The airline was later acquired by the Chairman of
Global Fleet, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim and renamed Air Nigeria in 2010. Air Nigeria
recently suspended its entire operations due to what Ibrahim called “staff
disloyalty and unfavourable business environment.” However, Virgin Atlantic
Airways’ top official revealed that Branson was still willing to invest in Nigeria’s
aviation sector again.
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