The setup of Nigeria Air has been suspended indefinitely as it was revealed to be a project by Ethiopian Airlines and not a genuine Nigerian initiative, according to Nigerian Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo stated that Nigeria Air was never truly Air Nigeria and was Ethiopian Airlines trying to operate under the Nigerian flag, which led to the suspension of the project.
Ethiopian Airlines had remained optimistic about Nigeria Air starting flight operations and had acquired three B737-8s for the project, but these aircraft were deployed at affiliate carriers in Togo, Malawi, and Zambia instead.
The project for Nigeria Air was proposed by the previous administration and aimed to establish a national carrier through a joint venture with Nigerian investors, led by Ethiopian Airlines. It faced legal challenges and was ultimately suspended following a change in government.
Mr Keyamo sid in a televised address; “it was not Air Nigeria. That is the truth. It was never Air Nigeria. It was only painted as Air Nigeria. It was Ethiopian Airlines trying to fly our flag. If it is so, why not allow a local airline to fly our flag? Why bring in a foreign airline to fly our flag? Air Nigeria will be indigenous for the whole of Nigeria and for the full benefit of Nigeria, not with 60pc of the profits going to another country. How would that benefit us? It stays suspended and will remain so.”
