NIGERIA Airways will soon lay off 809 workers ahead of a planned restructuring of the ailing national carrier, a press report said on Sunday. Under the exercise, which has already been approved by President Olusegun Obasanjo, the 2 309-strong workforce of the airline will be reduced by 809, the Guardian newspaper reported. It said the exercise was among conditions demanded by foreign creditors before the company can receive a loan of $30-million to turn its fortunes around ahead of a planned privatisation. Privatisation plans have stalled over disagreements among the company, the aviation ministry and advisers on how to conduct the sale. “Things were not as I would have wanted in our aviation sector when I came back to office. Nigeria Airways, which had over 30 aircraft when I left in 1979, had only one still flying when I came back in 1999,” he said. – AFP