Nigeria Air Project Suspended Indefinitely Amid Controversy, Says Aviation Minister

Nigeria’s ambitious plan to establish a new national carrier, Nigeria Air (NWB, Lagos), has been suspended indefinitely, revealed Festus Keyamo, the country’s aviation minister. During a televised briefing on May 27, which marked the first anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Keyamo stated that the initiative was essentially a facade for Ethiopian Airlines to operate under the Nigerian flag, rather than a genuine local enterprise.

Keyamo criticized the project for misleading the public by branding it as a Nigerian enterprise while planning to channel 60% of the profits overseas. “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,” Keyamo asserted. He questioned the rationale behind allowing a foreign carrier to operate what was supposed to be a national airline, advocating instead for a truly indigenous solution that would benefit the entire country.

The Nigeria Air project, initiated by the previous administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari and former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, aimed to establish the carrier in partnership with a consortium that included Ethiopian Airlines. However, the project faced significant opposition from private Nigerian carriers and ultimately collapsed following a governmental shift.

The controversy surrounding Nigeria Air has led to legal scrutiny, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) being ordered to investigate. This inquiry resulted in the arrest and arraignment of Hadi Sirika and several family members on charges related to the misappropriation of NGN2.7 billion naira (approximately USD1.94 million).

Ethiopian Airlines, which had remained optimistic about the project as recently as March and had even acquired three B737-8 aircraft for the operation, has yet to comment on the developments. These aircraft have since been allocated to Ethiopian’s affiliate carriers ASKY Airlines in Togo, Malawian Airlines, and Zambia Airways.

This indefinite suspension underscores the complex interplay of national interests, foreign participation, and economic realities in the aviation sector, particularly in the context of establishing a national carrier. The future of Nigeria Air remains uncertain as the government reassesses its strategy towards achieving an indigenous and economically beneficial aviation industry.