following the controversy surrounding Nigeria Air, industry operators are increasingly advocating the establishment of flag carriers to strengthen the country’s international aviation presence, writes PRINCESS ETUK
Nigeria Air had been set to begin flight operations in October 2024 amidst ongoing controversies over its viability. The national carrier, which was first unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in London in 2018, was officially unveiled by former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika in May 2023, just 48 hours before the end of his tenure.
However, this sudden launch sparked significant nationwide debate.
According to reports at the time, Nigeria Air was expected to start operations with two wide-bodied planes and six narrow-bodied aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines, which held a 49 per cent stake in the airline, was to manage its operations under a management contract, aiming to connect the local Nigerian market with international destinations.
The Nigerian government owned a five per cent stake, while the remaining shares were held by other institutional investors. The goal was to establish Nigeria Air as a successful flag carrier for the country.
However, the launch of the national carrier was marred by controversy and allegations of deception involving Sirika in2023. Reports surfaced that Sirika misled former President Muhammadu Buhari and the public by unveiling Nigeria Air just 48 hours before leaving office, despite the airline not having obtained complete certification.
According to a source from Aviation World, Sirika deceived Buhari into believing that the airline was ready for launch, without disclosing the lack of necessary approvals. Additionally, it was revealed that Sirika had obstructed the Nigerian Eagle airline from obtaining its certification because its name and branding were too similar to Nigeria Air.
Sirika allegedly attempted to use the Airline Operators Certificate of Nigerian Eagle for Nigeria Air but was unsuccessful. Critics argued that his actions were driven by self-interest rather than national interest, leading to widespread calls for his investigation along with all associated agencies.
The controversy intensified when Sirika, despite knowing about ongoing litigation against Nigeria Air, claimed that no rational court could prevent the airline from flying. He also contracted Ethiopian Airlines to provide an aircraft painted in Nigeria Air colours, which was flown into the country for the unveiling without the required certification from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The uproar following these revelations prompted the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to summon the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, along with the airline’s Managing Director, Capt. Dapo Olumide, and the shareholders for an emergency meeting. After the meeting, the legislative body labeled the project fraudulent, vowing to investigate and expose the full extent of the issues surrounding Nigeria Air.
To qualify for an operating license in Nigeria, an airline must have three of its aircraft registered in the country and go through five essential steps: the pre-application phase, formal application phase, documentation phase, demonstration and inspection phase, and certification phase.
The Nigeria Air project, initially announced over eight years ago, was still in phase one when the Buhari administration concluded its tenure, raising significant concerns about transparency and accountability.
In 2023, the Airline Operators of Nigeria accused East African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, of blatantly disregarding the country’s court system due to its involvement in the static display of Nigeria Air aircraft. AON also called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the judiciary to penalise Ethiopian Airlines for its blatant violation of a court order and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
In a statement released by its spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, AON asserted that Ethiopian Airlines had failed to act as a responsible corporate entity, allowing itself to be part of what was described as the “grand deception of Nigerians.” The association stressed that the airline knowingly landed an aircraft in Abuja on Friday, May 26, 2023 that neither belonged to Nigeria Air nor was registered in Nigeria as mandated by the NCARs, thus blatantly disregarding the country’s court order and regulations.
AON said, “This goes to show that Ethiopian Airlines operators have no iota of respect for our country, our laws, and regulatory agencies. It is our hope that Ethiopian Airlines do not get away with this disrespectful action.”
Additionally, AON explained that the Ministerial Committee on the Establishment of a National Carrier had recommended the setting up of a national airline that was private sector-driven with minimum government involvement.
AON accused Sirika of disregarding the recommendation by taking personal control of the project, from designing the logo and unveiling it at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, to establishing the company and providing office spaces for it, among other actions.
It also purported that Sirika had made an attempt to kill the entire indigenous operators and hand over the monopoly to Ethiopian Airlines in a “dubious and fraudulent way against the economic interest of Nigeria,” which it said compelled it to approach the court to stop the airline from berthing.
The current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed in May that the Nigeria Air project remained suspended, even as he described the project as fraudulent.
He noted that the national carrier, which was supposed to be an indigenous project and was expected to spark hope for Nigerians, had been trailed by secrecy and fraudulent activities. He explained that there was never a legitimate project to that effect but rather “an Ethiopian Airline disguising as Nigerian Air with an Ethiopian National Flag.”
He maintained that the project remained suspended, adding that it was anti-Nigeria.