Stakeholders in the aviation sector have expressed concerns over controversies surrounding the acquisition of aircraft used to float the national carrier, Nigeria Air.
Findings have revealed that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had contacted Ethiopian airlines few days ago, to provide an aircraft that would be presented to Nigerians as an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air. Ethiopian airline obliged by repainting and rebranding one of its Boeing 737-860 Max aircraft.
Investigations show that the Boeing 737-860 Max has registration Number ET-APL, Mode S Q4005C, and serial number: 40965/4075.
It was also revealed that the aircraft is about 11 years old, and its first flight was on June 22, 2012 as an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. The aircraft became Malawi Airlines on February 16, 2014 and was returned to Ethiopian Airlines on August 12, 2015.
Further checks, according to reports, showed that the aircraft changed colours but ownership remains that of Ethiopian Airlines.
The CEO of Ghana-based Smile Aviation and former CEO of Nigerian-based Associated Airlines, Alex Nwuba, described the national carrier as “unbudgeted billions spent on frivolities, showcasing, and unveilings”. Also, a security expert and former military commandant at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, John Ojikutu, also raised concerns on the ownership of the airplane.
Recall that the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) had on Thursday described the commencement of Nigeria Air as a flagrant disobedience of the orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria which halted the said moves by the minister to float the airline until the determination of the substantive suit brought by AON against it.
The AON also alleged that the process of acquiring Airline Operators Certificate, (AOC) for Nigeria Air is only at the Stage one, contrary to the minister of aviation’s televised statement that the Nigerian Air AOC process was at the concluding Stage five.
Request to Sirika by newsmen about findings on the aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report.
