Mesfin Tasew, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, has confirmed that the joint venture to establish a national carrier with the Nigerian government and institutional investors has been terminated.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Tasew explained that the partnership’s end came as a result of opposition from Nigerian aviation operators.
The plan for Nigeria Air, introduced in May 2023 by former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, faced significant controversy and resistance.
Domestic airlines, represented by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), challenged the airline’s ownership structure, leading to a legal injunction that prevented the airline’s launch.
On August 31, 2023, the Nigerian aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension of the project.
Tasew attributed the deal’s collapse to the lack of support from Nigerian operators.
“We don’t have any intention to partner with any of the Nigerian airlines today because it has been politicized,” he said.
“We tried to help the country by partnering with the government and other institutionalized investors in Nigeria. To use our expertise, our experience and establish a reliable airline that would be profitable in the short term.
“But as you may have read from the media, it was not welcomed by the Nigerian Airlines.
“Our intention was to help the country, but since they objected to the idea, there is no need for Ethiopian Airlines to go there.”
Tasew said Ethiopian Airlines is exploring plans to expand to other African countries where it has already partnered with operators such as Togo, Malawi, and Zambia.
On August 5, a federal high court in Lagos nullified the sale of 49 percent equity stake in the proposed Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
In October 2023, the Ethiopian Airlines boss had said the company would not be disappointed if the Nigerian government cancelled the Nigeria Air project.
