Nigeria’s aviation minister Festus Keyamo stated the government considers new models for a national carrier, commercially driven with private sector participation and not state-funded.
The project, previously stalled, requires transparency, global best practices and sustainability, serving as a flag carrier like British Airways with ongoing discussions with potential partners. Nigeria rejected reviving Nigeria Air, declared null and void by Lagos High Court in August 2024 after a lawsuit from Airline Operators of Nigeria citing impacts on local airlines.
The original Nigeria Air under former President Muhammadu Buhari and minister Hadi Sirika involved Ethiopian Airlines leading a consortium with 49pc Nigerian stake, but Keyamo called it not a genuine Nigerian project.
An ongoing investigation into corruption linked to Nigeria Air charged Sirika and family with misappropriating NGN2.7 billion (about €1.6m), though Sirika defended the initiative as transparent and aimed at international competition.
Festus Keyamo shared: “The correct story should be that the Federal Government will not invest a dime in establishing a National Carrier but is always open to proposals from private or public entities, both in and out of the country that truly benefit Nigeria and Nigerians in establishing a National Carrier.”
