In a detailed account of the events surrounding the unveiling
of Nigeria Air’s logo, Acting Managing
Director Capt. Dapo Olumide disclosed
that the aircraft bearing the airline’s logo had been chartered from Ethiopian
Airlines solely for the purpose of the unveiling ceremony. This revelation
followed a previous report by Daily Trust, which highlighted Ethiopian
Airlines’ ownership of the Boeing 737-800 series aircraft that arrived in Abuja
from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on May 26.
The chartered aircraft departed Addis Ababa at 9:55 a.m. on
May 26 and safely landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja
at 12:43 p.m. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, expressed his delight at
the realization of the project, stating that it had undergone a lengthy,
challenging, and arduous journey before finally taking off. Subsequently, the
aircraft, registered as ET-APL, was unveiled by Sirika at the General Aviation
Terminal of the Abuja airport.
Investigations into the aircraft’s history revealed that it
had been in service for its original airline until just four days prior to its
arrival in Nigeria. Its flight history indicated that it had flown from Addis
Ababa to Tel Aviv in Israel. Flightradar, a popular flight tracking website,
confirmed that the aircraft had operated between Tel Aviv and Mogadishu,
Somalia, on May 21, 2023. Furthermore, it had flown to Beirut, Lebanon, on both
May 20 and 21.
However, during his appearance before the Senate Committee on
Aviation, Capt. Dapo Olumide clarified that Nigeria Air had not yet obtained
the necessary operating license for full flight operations, as the process was
still in its early stages. He explained that the chartered aircraft had been
utilized temporarily until all the required procedures for the airline’s
operation were completed. Olumide emphasized that his main responsibility was
to secure an air operating certificate for Nigeria Air, rather than to
personally operate the airline.
He elaborated on the nature of the chartered flight, stating
that it was a legitimate charter arrangement. He likened it to anyone
chartering an aircraft for a destination wedding, emphasizing that no operating
license was required for such a charter. The chartered aircraft was paid for,
brought to Nigeria, and used to transport passengers for the unveiling
ceremony. Olumide clarified that the purpose of bringing the aircraft to
Nigeria was to showcase the physical representation of Nigeria Air’s logo, as
previous depictions had only been in the form of pictures and drawings since
2018. The involvement of institutional investors, who had committed their funds
for a substantial period, necessitated the display of an actual aircraft.
Olumide explained that the intention was to present the aircraft to shareholders
and let them see what the real aircraft would look like.
Regarding the requirement for an operating license, Olumide
mentioned that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) mandated Nigeria
Air to have three aircraft registered in Nigeria before granting the license.
The chartered aircraft did not fulfill this criterion. However, when the news
of the chartered flight broke on social media, it sparked speculation that
Nigeria Air had been officially launched. Olumide pointed out that there were knowledgeable
individuals in the aviation industry who could have corrected this
misconception, but they chose not to.
In response to the revelations, the Chairman of the Senate
Committee, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, expressed disappointment at the former Minister
of Aviation’s failure to involve the committee and other stakeholders in the
Air Nigeria project. The committee had consistently extended invitations to the
former minister, but he neglected to engage with them and seek their input on
various matters related to the project.
