The Federal Government has selected Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred partner for the national carrier, to boost the African aviation industry.
The Nigeria Air project has been described as “a partnership between the two highest populated African nations” that will impact greatly the aviation industry on the continent and intergovernmental relationships.
This was the declaration of the Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mrs. Dagamawit Moges when she led the country’s delegation at the 41st General Assembly of ICAO on a courtesy visit to the Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika at the Nigerian ICAO Mission office in Montreal, Canada.
According to her, the government of Ethiopia, particularly, Ethiopian Airlines, is very excited about the partnership for the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier and hoped that it will open new vistas for partnership in other areas, both political and economic.
She commended the Nigerian government for picking Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred partner for the national carrier out of the numerous interests that were expressed, assuring that the consideration would not be taken for granted.
Also, Moges said that Nigeria, with her position as a major player in the global aviation industry, remains an attractive partner and expressed optimism that the establishment of Nigeria Air will be beneficial to all involved, including Nigeria’s teeming populace.
Welcoming the Ethiopian minister and her delegation, Sirika stated that the decision to establish the national carrier through a partnership was not because Nigeria lacks capacity to cater for her carrier; instead, he said, the decision was borne of a bid to avoid the same issues which led to the collapse of the previous national carrier.
The choice of Ethiopian Airlines, he said, was based on its shining example as a government business that can be run profitably, apart from being an African airline that has carved a niche for itself in the world air transportation industry.
Sirika described the national carrier project as “one that is dear to the heart of President Muhammadu Buhari”, saying that its successful delivery would boost the development and success of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to which both countries are signatories.
