Ex-Nigerian Aviation Minister Dubs Nigeria Air An Ethiopian Airlines Marketing Strategy
The minister has responded to various allegations involving Nigeria Air.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation said that the unveiling of the Nigeria Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft on May 26 was Ethiopian Airlines’ initiative. Following the presentation, many allegations have been thrown at ex-minister Hadi Sirika and the Buhari administration.
The aircraft unveiled with the Nigeria Air livery was registered as ET-APL and belonged to Ethiopian Airlines, the majority shareholder in the project. Flight records show that the jet has been operating daily flights for ET before and after the unveiling. However, the 737 was not in service for three days before the presentation, when it is suspected to have been painted with Nigeria Air colors.
Last week the House of Representatives summoned the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and various stakeholders involved in the Nigeria Air project to meet and discuss the pending issues. In an interview with Arise News, the Former Minister responded to the allegations presented by various government officials.
Ethiopian’s marketing strategy
Senator Hadi Sirika disclosed that the Nigeria Air 737 that landed at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (ABV) was unveiled as a marketing strategy by the majority shareholders rather than the Nigerian government.
Present at the unveiling was Ethiopian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Lemma Yadecha. He said, “It is very important, and Ethiopian Airlines is here as part of the consortium to work on the development of Nigeria Air, and we will, for sure, play a significant role in sharing our experience in the field of aviation.”
According to the former minister, ET consulted him to do this special presentation as their own marketing strategy, and the Nigerian government did not pay any money for the branding and logistics. The unveiling was solely ET’s decision to showcase the Nigeria Air livery on a real aircraft.
“It is their own marketing strategy as equity partners that they came to do this unveiling on a special allowance which is called chartered flight. Chartered does not mean they paid for it. If there is anybody that paid for it, it would have been the Ethiopian Airlines. No penny is paid. It was the owners that consulted me and decided to do the unveiling as a part of the marketing strategy.”
ET rightfully took back the aircraft as Nigeria Air’s AOC was not ready. The minister explained that the national carrier can still take off in the event that the new government decides to pull out of the project. Although 95% private, the new carrier would have tax incentives to maximize its contribution to the country’s GDP.
Check out more African aviation news here
Further allegations
Several aviation stakeholders opposed the attempted launch of the national carrier. The Airline Operators of Nigeria accused Ethiopian Airlines of disrespecting the nation’s aviation sector, while the former Chair of the House Committee of Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, deemed the project a fraud.
Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika responded by saying that Nnolim Nnaji begged him for a 5% stake in the carrier. The conversations took place over the phone, and the minister has the recordings to support his claims.
“He asked me to please indulge him and give him 5% of the airline and carry him along and his people. What I told him in private is that it belonged to the owners, and I believe they will still be willing to give him if he had the money.”
There are further allegations saying the Nigeria Air project was covered up in secrecy, which was denied by the minister. He was surprised by the claims as the carrier was publicly advertised on numerous occasions, including a business conference attended by members of the AON.
In the past eight years, about $10.8 million was budgeted for the launch of the national carrier, and about $6.5 million was released by the end of Sirika’s term. The ex-minister added that Nigeria Air would have operated within the same tax laws as other airlines if it took off.
What do you think of the latest Nigeria Air developments? Let us know in the comments!
Source: ARISE NEWS
