The Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika has revealed that Nigeria will soon get a privately owned national air carrier, Channels TV reports.

Sirika reportedly revealed this while speaking to journalists in Addis Ababa at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

Sirika revealed that the project will be supported by private individuals and the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Chinese Exim Bank. He said:

We are very close to having a national carrier at the moment. We are at the stage of transaction services. We have affiliations which will be dealt with. I hope within this week, you will hear from me on where we are. It will be soon

The move will reportedly see Nigeria take advantage of the Single Air Transport Market launched by the African Union on Monday, with countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Niger Republic, Rwanda, and South Africa, set to participate in the initiative.