Aviation Minister Suspends Nigeria Air Project

By Patience Moses Chat

Few weeks after the announcement of the official date for the launch of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, through a partnership that was signed with the leadership of Ethiopian Airlines, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the suspension of the project.

Prior to the partnership that was signed with Ethiopian Airlines, there was an initial launch of Nigerian Air, which was widely berated as a scam by many Nigerians. The plane that was unveiled was said to be over 10 years old and had been previously operated by Ethiopian and Malawi Airlines. Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had both equally labeled the launch of the Nigeria Air as a fraud.

Speaking on the issue, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Centurion Security, Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), urged the government to discard the idea of national carrier as it has become a drain pipe on the economy. According to him, what Nigeria needs now are two flag carriers which should be for regional and continental route, and the other for intercontinental route, which should come from the existing domestic carriers. He said, “No government of any developing country has the financial resources to solely finance an airline, not even the USA that happened to be the largest economy in the world. They don’t have a national carrier but flag carriers”.

Another stakeholder in the industry, who prefers anonymity, noted that Nigeria does not have an operating license to commence Nigeria Air operations and that one of the requirements to operate in Nigeria is that the airplane must be registered in Nigeria and must commence with a minimum of three planes. “President Tinubu needs to take a serious look at issues like the Nigeria Air and make whoever is culpable pay, as this will go a long way in reposing the confidence of Nigerians in his administration,” he said.

However, few weeks after his inauguration as Minister of Aviation, Keyamo put a hold on the proposed launch of Nigeria Air due to controversial issues revolving around the project. Keyamo gave this directive after a tour of the international airports in Lagos, where he was accompanied by the Managing Director (MD) of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed. Keyamo also put on hold all arrangements under his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, to enable proper audit of contracts in the aviation industry.

He has also put a halt to the concession project, saying that he owes it to the Federal Government and Nigerians to give an honest assessment. The recently-appointed minister of aviation further said the suspension will be in place until he briefs President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “I owe it to the Government and Nigerians to provide an honest assessment,” he said.

Keyamo also said that the old international terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos would be shut down by October 1, 2023 for renovation. He further gave a directive that all private hangars would be relocated to pave way for expansion of the new terminal. “The major complaints have been with the old terminal. That place is an eyesore to Nigerians coming in. The lifts are not working,” Keyamo said.

“The passage is unwelcoming and there is no air conditioner. We have the new terminal but cannot be used. It was designed without provision for big planes.

Reacting to Keyemo’s announcement, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) commended him for the decision to suspend every activity related to the operationalization of Nigeria Air. The Chairman of AON, Obiora Okonkwo who doubles as the Chairman of United Airlines, said by the action, the minister had displayed rare courage and great patriotism to save Nigeria from further embarrassment in the aviation world.

The spokesperson stated that the proposal was poorly thought through and lacked even a minimal amount of openness, as was clear to everyone who had followed events around the Nigeria Air project during the last administration. “It was therefore, no surprise that the House of Representatives Committees on Aviation which investigated the process and purported launch of Nigeria Air on Friday, June 2, 2023, described it as a fraud”.

“AON continues to believe that it is not right to float a national carrier on the terms set out by the immediate past aviation minister. This is because the process will undermine, even destroy, the aviation sector in Nigeria with Ethiopian Airlines waiting on the wings for total takeover,” he said.

In Africa, only Kenya Airways and Tunis Air are National Flag Carriers while all others; Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Royal Air Maroc as well as recently floated Air Tanzania, Rwandan Air and Air Code Ivoire as well as Air Namibia are all 100% equity National Carriers. The only upcoming private airline is Ghana-based African World Airways, which is not yet global. 

In Nigeria, the most reliable airline is the sub-national Ibom Air owned 100% and well-run by Akwa Ibom State Government. It may be the first airline in Nigeria to attract commercial relationship with a major foreign airline. Globally, the 20 best Airlines rated on Sky track are either National Carriers or National Flag Carriers. No individually owned Flag Carrier comes near global rating.

Flag Carriers are airlines owned by individuals or families whose shares are not available to the public. Flag Carriers are not floated by governments. Any private airline that has a designation on BASA routes and flies out of the country such as Air Peace with Nigeria Call Sign – NG is recognized as a Nigerian (not National) Flag Carrier. It is important to note that Flag Carriers have no sovereign covers, unlike National flag carriers, solely owned by the country.