Following the unsuccessful attempts to establish a national airline after the defunct Nigerian Airways, the government has stepped up efforts to create a new national carrier. Aviation industry experts have proposed various strategies to turn this vision into reality, Nigerians recall how the government’s bid to launch Nigeria Air in the final days of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ended in disappointment. Having been without a national carrier for over two decades after Nigeria Airways stopped operating in 2003 and was liquidated in 2004.
The government decided to liquidate the airline due to its declining performance and debts.
After several promises to give Nigerians a national carrier, former Nigerian Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika officially unveiled Nigeria Air in Abuja on May 27, 2023, just 48 hours before the end of his tenure.
The minister had previously disclosed that Nigeria Air would begin operation before the swearing-in of a new administration on May 29, 2023. However, the airline did not start operations in April 2022 as planned.
After the unveiling of Nigeria Air on May 27, 2023, reports emerged that the minister had chartered an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft for the launch.
In response to the allegation, the minister, in an interview with newsmen, noted that the agreement was for “the takeoff of the airline three aircraft in the name of Nigeria Air will commence the operations once the AOC is ready” but that an aircraft had to come in as part of their marketing strategy, which he said was the wishes of the owners of the airline.
He confirmed that the aircraft was internationally registered and that they could not have kept an airline on the ground when it was not ready to take off.
He added, “Ethiopian people are masters of the game,” suggesting they purposely did not keep an aircraft air until they started operations.
