Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika (Credit: Twitter) |
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has disclosed reasons why the Federal Government picked Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred bidder for the National Carrier, Nigeria Air.
The Minister said Ethiopian Airlines was the only airline
that responded to its requests for expression of interest and fulfilled all the
stipulated conditions laid down by Nigeria.
Sirika who disclosed this while presenting the scorecard of
the ministry in Abuja on Thursday said other airlines in the world ignored
Nigeria’s call to join hands with her to float a national carrier despite the
fact that he personally went to the airlines and met with them at several air
shows and international aviation forums to convince them to partner with the
country.
He, however, said that the airline proved that it is not
only efficient and prosperous by registering over $1bn profit after tax even in
the wake of COVID-19 but has continued to flourish despite the challenges in
the aviation sector globally.
He added, “We did not cede Nigeria Air to Ethiopian
Airlines. It is the only airline in the world that made $1 billion profit even
during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the most prosperous, efficient and leading
airline in the African continent and it was the only airline that responded to
our request for partnership to run the airline after many months of
advertisement of expression of interest.
“Even after some interested persons asked Nigeria to extend
the time of EoI and we did, none of them showed interest. Officials of the
ministry of aviation led by me personally visited some of the leading airlines
across the world and pleaded with them to take up the partnership with Nigeria
to set up the airline, none of them signified interest except Ethiopian
Airlines, which has been allotted 49 per cent shares while Nigerian
institutional investors take up 45 per cent while the federal government will
take up only five per cent.
“The choice of Ethiopian Airlines is good for Nigeria and it
is in line with the African Union Agenda. Our desire is for Africa to come
together and lead the African aviation market through our new partnership with
Ethiopian Airlines. The partnership will also reduce cost of operations and
airfares for Nigerian and African air travellers as opposed to the current
situation.
“Contrary to what people think, let it be known that
Ethiopian Airlines emerged as the preferred partner of Nigeria Air through a
transparent and credible process that cannot be faulted because we want the
project to succeed so that Nigeria can have an airline that does not suffer the
fate of the former Nigeria Airways.”
Speaking further, the minister noted that going forward, all
airports in the country must be built and operated in accordance with the
Aviation masterplan that had been developed in order to avoid chaotic
situations that have already sprung out in many of the airports including Lagos
International airport, where many structures have already been marked for
demolition in the overall public interest despite the cost involved.
Regarding the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in
Abuja, the minister pointed out that the entire stretch running from Bill
Clinton Way through Gwagwalada has been captured under the Abuja Airport
Masterplan and that any development that does not fit into the masterplan would
be demolished.
He, therefore, cautioned individuals and entities currently
carrying out development projects along that stretch measuring about 12,000
hectares of land, to pause and await further information to avoid demolition.
The minister further warned international airlines operating
in Nigeria to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity and honour in their
operations under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement that they signed with the
country and not to threaten it at random because of the delay in repatriating
their funds.
He said that those airlines need Nigeria just as Nigerians
need their services and that they should therefore show respect, patience and
understanding with Nigeria, adding that trapped funds will be cleared before
the end of the year.
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