Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed that the Nigerian government has abandoned plans to establish the proposed Nigeria Air joint venture.
This announcement came from the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, in Dubai over the weekend.
Reported by Ethiopian Tribune, a major Ethiopian media outlet, Tasew stated, “The Nigerian government has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline.”
This announcement follows the Federal Government’s indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project two months prior. In May 2024, during the ministerial briefing marking the first year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension.
Keyamo had criticized the deal with Ethiopian Airlines as unfair to Nigerian airlines, asserting it would be irresponsible for the government to allow a foreign entity to dominate Nigeria’s aviation industry and hinder the growth of local businesses.
The Nigeria Air project was initially announced by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on July 18, 2018, to revive the defunct Nigerian Airways. However, it was suspended two months later due to concerns about its relevance and sustainability, with projected costs of $8.8 million in preliminary expenses and $300 million in take-off costs.
In 2022, Ethiopian Airlines won the bid to manage Nigeria Air, agreeing to hold a 49% stake, with the Federal Government retaining 5%, SAHCO 15%, and other investors 31%.
In May 2023, just before the end of the previous administration, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika officially launched Nigeria Air. By June 2023, the House of Representatives criticized the launch process as fraudulent, leading the House Committee on Aviation to pass a resolution asking the government to suspend Nigeria Air’s operations.
Current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, reiterated that the deal with Ethiopian Airlines was not beneficial for Nigeria in the long run. He confirmed the indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project during a briefing in May 2024.
Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering, contract fraud in the ministry, and issues related to Nigeria Air.
The controversies surrounding Nigeria Air have underscored significant challenges and discrepancies in Nigeria’s aviation sector, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability.
