FG says Ethiopian Airlines not frontrunner for Nigeria Air

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has denied media reports that Ethiopian Airlines is a frontrunner for the planned Nigeria Air.

Reuters had reported that, “Ethiopian Airlines is the frontrunner to set up and manage a new national carrier for Nigeria” based on revelations from its chief executive.

“We are among a small group with an interest in establishing a national carrier (in Nigeria)...We do not know the results (of the tender), though we are frontrunners,” Chief Executive of EA, Tewolde Gebremariam, told a news conference, Reuters reported.

Reacting to the ET claims on behalf of Hadi Sirika to our correspondent, the Deputy Director Press, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. James Odaudu, said the claim was not true.

“I’m not aware of that position honestly. Even if they have tendered, I think it is preposterous and flippant to make that kind of statement at a press conference. What I know is that discussions have and are being made with prospective partners and investors ranging from development finance institutions, airlines and OEMs. I don’t know about ET being frontrunners to establish and manage Nigeria Air” he said.

He explained that “these discussions are not limited to the establishment of a national carrier. There are other components of the aviation roadmap for which investors are being sought. These include the establishment of an MRO centre, concession of airports, establishment of an Aviation Leasing Company, etc.,” he noted.

“It will also be necessary to state that the processes for the establishment of the national carrier, and indeed other projects in the roadmap, have been guided and would continue to be guided by the national policy on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and it’s elements of transparency, accountability and overall public interest, ” he said.