Tag: Nigeria Air

Concerns grow, as Nigeria Air is flown into Abuja on ‘borrowed’ Ethiopian Airlines

Aminu Imam

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…

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‘Nigeria Air can’t take off without NASS approval’ – Senate

Aminu Imam

The Senate has said Nigeria Air cannot take-off without the National Assembly having a say in it. The Senate, through its aviation committee, stated this in an interactive session with stakeholders in the aviation industry. The Chairman of the committee, Biodun Olujimi, reminded the stakeholders that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had at the last interactive session given a roadmap for the ministry and promised that the airline would be launched in December before it would go public. Olujimi also noted that the Senate had it on good authority…

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Nigeria Air to fly before May 29 – Aviation Minister

Aminu Imam

Minister of aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has declared that Nigeria Air, the projected national carrier, will take flight before May 29th, 2023. According to the Minister, who stated this yesterday at the 10th Aviation stakeholders forum, said the project is98 percent finished. “The airline will fly before May 29th this year”, he stated. “Negotiation meeting with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria ongoing. Next step: Federal Executive Council approval of the Full Business Case. “Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end…

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Nigeria Air: Airline operators get court order to stop project

Aminu Imam

….“No court can stop airline from flying” – Sirika The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has stopped the Federal Government from going on with its Nigeria Air agreement reached with Ethiopia Airlines. Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who granted the order of interim injunction on Friday, ruled that an Order of Maintenance of Status Quo by all the parties in the suit from taking any further step(s) in relation to the subject matter of the suit pending when the determination of the ‘Motion on Notice’ is granted. Recall that about eight…

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Ethiopian Airlines’ stake in Nigeria Air, an existential threat to aviation sector –Aviation Stakeholders

Aminu Imam

As the Federal Government wraps up plans to flag-off the national carrier, Nigeria Air, stakeholders in the aviation sector have expressed concerns over the choice of Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor in the airline. Recall that a month ago, the federal government, through the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, announced Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor for the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, following a successful bid. Sirika said the airlines will have 49 percent equity while Nigerian private investors (SAHCO, MRS and other institutional investors) have 46 percent and…

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National Carrier: “There’s nothing Nigerian about Nigeria Air” – Airline Operators

Aminu Imam

The move by the Federal Government to float a national carrier is currently facing scrutiny, as airline operators and aviation stakeholders queried the shareholding structure of the proposed Nigerian Air. At a webinar yesterday, the spokesman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, declared, “We have not seen anything Nigerian in this Nigeria Air”.  He spoke at the on-going webinar on ‘Nigeria Air: The Solution to Nigeria’s Aviation Problem’, facilitated by Avaero Capital Partners. The Federal Government had selected Ethiopian Airlines as the equity partner in the proposed…

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Nigeria Air: FEC approves lease of 3 aircrafts to commence operations

Aminu Imam

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the leasing of three aircrafts by the country’s national carrier, known as ‘Nigeria Air’ to enable it to commence operations. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said this yesterday while briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Federal Government had disclosed that Nigeria Air will commence operations with three wet-leased aircraft. Sirika said Nigeria Air will start with domestic flights before expanding to international routes. While reacting to the issue of airline shut down such as Aero Contractors,…

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