The Ministry of Transport says it has commenced discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the nation has a national carrier.

The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while defending the 2016 budget of the ministry before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

"I do not want to say much on the national carrier because the ministry is still discussing with President Muhammadu Buhari.

"The national carrier we are working on will not be like Nigeria Airways.

"A lot of investors are interested, so the government will not be fully involved but will provide policies,’’ he said.

Amaechi said that the ministry would soon commence `extensive audit’ of the renovation of the nation’s airports carried out by the past administration.

He said that the ministry was poised to ensure that the aviation industry was better positioned to meet international standards.

The minister also said that the ministry was working on expanding the runways of the airports to ensure safety of passengers.

He assured the committee that the 2016 budget would bring about the desired change in the aviation sector, when passed.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said that the deplorable state of the nation’s airports called for concern.

He urged the minister to ensure that adequate steps were taken to reposition the nation’s airports.

The lawmaker, however, observed that the ministry included some projects contained in the first phase of the airport remodeling in the 2016 budget when work was almost 99 per cent completed.