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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Nigerian Eagle: South African Airlines gets ultimatum
South Africa Airline (SAA) must submit a fresh bid within two weeks for a stake in Nigerian Eagle if its wants to be considered along with other airlines as core investor in Nigeria�s new national airline. This was the Federal Government�s unequivocal message conveyed to South African authorities by Aviation Minister, Malam Isa Yuguda, during his two day visit to SAA over the weekend. The Southern Africa Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yuguda, who led seven other Nigerian officials to talks in Pretoria, met separately with South African Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin and Transport Minister Jeff Radebe. Although officials of the countries refused to comment on the outcome of the "frank" meeting, NAN gathered that Yuguda conveyed the Federal Government�s decision to re-consider and evaluate SAA�s fresh bid along with other bidders for a stake in Nigerian Eagle. Among the contending airlines for a stake in Nigerian Eagle are Air France and Virgin Atlantic. Sources close to the meeting told NAN in Pretoria that Yuguda gave SAA only three days to submit a fresh bid which the South African officials considered too short and asked for a month. According to sources, South Africa�s request for one-month to submit a fresh bid was turned down by the aviation minister because giving such a concession to SAA would delay other bidding airlines who had submitted their bids. A two-week compromise was eventually agreed upon by both parties for SAA to submit a fresh bid. NAN reports that the aviation minister also inspected SAA facilities at the Johannesburg International Airport before returning to Nigeria. |
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