NIGERIA AIR, THE NATIONAL CARRIER THAT REFUSES TO FLY 

Did you know that Nigeria has bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) with 70 countries but only 30 are operating at the moment, and that Ethiopian Airlines has the highest share of 49% in the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air?

The name Nigeria Air, the proposed airline and flag carrier in Nigeria, and its logo, were unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom in July 2018. Operations of Nigeria Air was expected to begin in December 2018. But close to five years after (2023), Nigeria Air is yet to take to the sky.

Ethiopian Airlines is said to have a stake in Nigeria Air with 49% share, while the Nigerian government announced an investment of US$5 million in the venture in 2017. However, the incorporated Trustees of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) comprising Azman Air, Air Peace, Max Air and Top Brass Airlines had sued the Federal Government challenging the shareholding arrangement which makes Ethiopian Airlines the highest shareholder (49%) and by implication, controller of the airline.

The Minister for State Aviation, Hadi Sirika, insisted then that the airline will be privately-operated. "It is a business, not a social service. The government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it. The investors will have full responsibility for this," the Minister said. The Minister also announced that the government is in negotiations with Airbus and Boeing to provide a fleet for the new national airline. 

But barely two months after its first proposal, the Federal Government on 19 September 2018, announced the suspension of Nigeria Air, describing the move as a tough decision.

Again, as the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari draws to an end on Monday, May 29, 2023, Hadi Sirika, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, May 22, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, insisted that Nigeria Air will fly before the president's handover date. He said all arrangements had been put in place for the take-off of the national carrier.

Earlier, on February 19, President Buhari met in Addis Ababa with Girma Wake, Ethiopian Airlines Board Chairman, during which they exchanged views on the operationalization of Nigeria Air, and with the latter requesting a resolution of the legal obstacle halting Nigeria Air from commencing operations, saying that the airline and its partners were ready to commence operations on Nigeria Air as soon as all the court matters are resolved.

The court had granted an order of perpetual injunction stopping further actions on the airlines and it is not clear when the order would be lifted even as the airline is yet to be issued an Air Operator’s Certificate.

Nigeria has bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) with 70 countries; however, only 30 are operating at the moment. Since Arik Air and Med-View Airline terminated their long-haul operations, only Air Peace has been operating long-haul flights. 

The airline was looking at 81 potential destinations. However, Group Captain John Ojikutu, an expert in Nigerian aviation, stated that operation to just 15 of the 30 countries with which Nigeria has functioning BASAs would be an adequate start.

The question on the lips of Nigerians, especially those in the aviation industry is, can this be achieved in the few hours left of Buhari’s government?

Sources:

https://dailytrust.com/nigeria-air-fails-to-fly-96-hours-to-end-of-buharis-tenure/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Air