Ethiopian Airlines revealed that the Nigerian government has withdrawn its interest in collaborating on the proposed Nigeria Air project.
Mesfin Tasew, the Airlines’ Group Chief Executive Officer, conveyed this update during the weekend in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as reported by Ethiopian Tribune, a prominent Ethiopian media outlet.
“The Nigerian government has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline,” Tasew was quoted as saying.
This announcement by Ethiopian Airlines comes barely two months after the Federal Government indefinitely suspended the Nigeria Air project.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced on May 27 that the Nigeria Air project would be indefinitely suspended during a ministerial briefing marking the first year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Keyamo had previously voiced criticism regarding the partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, arguing that the ownership structure of the suspended airline was not in the best interest of Nigeria.
READ ALSO: EFCC Apprehends Former Aviation Minister Sirika Over N8bn ‘Nigeria Air’ Scam
He expressed concern that allowing a foreign entity to dominate Nigeria’s aviation industry could hinder the growth of local businesses.
In 2023, under former Minister Hadi Sirika’s leadership, the Ministry of Aviation unveiled Nigeria Air just three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The move raised nationwide concerns among stakeholders regarding the ownership arrangement, which granted Ethiopian Airlines a 49% equity stake.
The Federal Government held a 5% equity stake, while a consortium of three Nigerian investors held 46%.
In June 2023, the House of Representatives responded to the situation by calling on the Federal Government to suspend Nigeria Air’s operations, labeling the project as fraudulent.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
