The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines stated that the situation surrounding Nigeria Air has been influenced by political factors, leading to the company's withdrawal of support.
Mesfin Tasew Bekele, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has pointed to the politicization and pushback from local Nigerian airlines as key factors in the unsuccessful Nigeria Air initiative.
In a recent discussion on Bloomberg Television, Bekele conveyed his disappointment regarding the lack of collaboration, emphasizing that Ethiopian Airlines is not looking to form partnerships with any Nigerian carriers due to the project's politicized nature.
He noted that despite attempts to work alongside the Nigerian government and institutional investors to create a dependable and profitable airline, local airlines' resistance hindered progress. This opposition played a significant role in the project's downfall.
"We currently have no plans to partner with any Nigerian airlines because of the politicization involved.
"We aimed to assist the country by collaborating with the government and institutional investors in Nigeria, leveraging our expertise to establish a reliable and profitable airline in the near term.
"However, as reported in the media, this initiative was not embraced by the Nigerian airlines," Bekele remarked.
These comments come after Bekele's earlier announcement in June that the Nigerian government had opted to discontinue the Nigeria Air project.
Despite this setback, Ethiopian Airlines is actively seeking new partnerships with African nations. Bekele indicated that within the next year, the airline intends to collaborate with at least two countries, either by managing existing airlines or launching new ventures.
The Nigeria Air initiative, launched under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, sought to revitalize the now-defunct Nigerian Airways.
The project was unveiled on July 18, 2018, but was halted just two months later due to doubts regarding its viability and sustainability, with initial expenditures projected at $8.8 million and operational costs estimated at $300 million.
In 2022, Ethiopian Airlines won the bid to oversee Nigeria Air, agreeing to a 49% ownership stake, while the Federal Government retained 5%, SAHCO held 15%, and other investors accounted for 31%.
In May 2023, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika officially inaugurated Nigeria Air shortly before the conclusion of the previous administration.
However, by June 2023, the House of Representatives condemned the launch process as fraudulent, prompting the House Committee on Aviation to pass a resolution advocating for the suspension of Nigeria Air’s operations.
Festus Keyamo, the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, subsequently criticized the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, asserting that it was not in the nation's best interest.
In May 2024, Keyamo declared the indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project during a briefing commemorating President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.
At present, former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering, contract fraud within the ministry, and matters related to Nigeria Air.