The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew has explained why the plan to create Nigeria Air failed.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Tasew said Nigerian politics was to blame.
The project, initiated under former President Buhari and led by former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, faced controversy. The current aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, argued that the deal would not benefit Nigeria.
Tasew explained that Ethiopian Airlines wanted to help Nigeria build a successful airline but faced opposition from local airlines and political issues. “We had high hopes for a strong national carrier for Nigeria,” Tasew said. “However, after the government changed, the project ended.”
He added, “We don’t plan to enter Nigeria now. Our partnership idea was rejected, and local airlines opposed it, believing it would harm their business.”
Keyamo had criticized the deal, saying it would give Ethiopian Airlines too much control and hurt Nigerian airlines.
He said the President would decide based on submitted reports.
Recently, a Federal High Court in Lagos declared the sale of Nigerian Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines invalid.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the creation of Nigeria Air should not proceed, granting the requests of the plaintiffs, including the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
