ABUJA, Nigeria – The Senate, led by Senator Biodun Olujimi, has expressed its disapproval at the controversy stirred by the Federal Government’s unveiling of a Boeing 737-800 series aircraft for Nigeria Air, which allegedly belongs to Ethiopia Airlines.
The incident occurred during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, between the Senate Committee on Aviation, officials from the Ministry of Aviation, and other industry stakeholders.
Senator Olujimi, who chairs the Committee, remarked that the Nigeria Air arrangement was shrouded in suspicion and regretted that the unveiling had led to an integrity issue.
The committee highlighted several issues, including the controversial trapped aviation fund, the expensive purchase of fire trucks, and the preference for Ethiopian Airlines over Nigerian operators in the sector.
The Committee referred to the assertion made by the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that the aircraft was an Air Nigeria plane and that four others were expected, as mere propaganda.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Meribole, attempted to clarify that Nigeria Air was a Public Private Partnership, PPP, project, but his explanation failed to satisfy the Committee members.
Meribole stated that the unveiling was intended to counter negative publicity on social media.
Responding to the Senators, the Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Dayo Olumide, clarified that the aircraft was a temporary charter from Ethiopia to demonstrate what an aircraft decorated with the Nigerian flag would look like.
Olumide emphasized that his primary responsibility was to secure an operating certificate for the airline, and the Ethiopian-registered aircraft was only chartered for a few days.
He said that the aircraft was not registered in Nigeria because it was a chartered flight and that three Nigerian-registered aircraft would be required to secure the licence.
The Senate Committee acknowledged that Nigeria Air is a good concept, but cautioned against gimmicks and urged for more transparency in the execution of the project.
