The House of Representatives has exposed the alleged fraud behind the supposed launch of Nigeria Air during the final days of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Nnolim Nnaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, unequivocally declared the launch of Nigeria Air as a fraudulent act after key stakeholders involved in the deal between the Federal Government and Ethiopian Airlines denied any knowledge of such a launch.
The Ministry of Aviation’s claim that Nigeria Air was merely unveiled, not launched, was dismissed by the committee as a mere attempt to divert attention away from the issue at hand.
During the committee proceedings, members were taken aback when the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) disclosed that the aircraft adorned with Nigerian colors was on a chartered flight to Nigeria. Other stakeholders confirmed that a chartered flight could be painted with any color and bear any inscription.
Dayo Olumide, the Managing Director of Nigeria Air, disclosed that the airplane that landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 26, 2023, was indeed a chartered aircraft from Ethiopia. Olumide clarified that the airline was initially launched in 2018, and his responsibility revolved around securing an operating certificate for the airline, not operating it.
In response to questions raised by Senator Olujimi, the Chairperson of the Committee on Aviation, Olumide acknowledged the committee’s suspicions surrounding the Nigeria Air project. He further explained that the aircraft that arrived in the country did not require a license as it was hired on a charter basis. Olumide emphasized that the purpose of bringing the aircraft to Nigeria was to unveil it and provide shareholders with a glimpse of the actual aircraft, as well as to showcase it to institutional investors.
Olumide clarified that the aircraft in question was Ethiopian-registered, and to operate within Nigeria, it must be registered under Nigerian jurisdiction. However, since it was a chartered flight with limited clearance, it did not meet the necessary registration requirements. Olumide stressed that obtaining a license was a part of his mandate, but the airline must have three Nigerian-registered aircraft before the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCA) can grant the license.
He further explained that the process of obtaining a license involved several steps, and although they had progressed to the second step, changes in key positions necessitated going back to the first step, which is a normal and necessary process. Olumide expressed frustration that despite the availability of knowledgeable individuals in the aviation industry who could have provided clarification when social media began speculating about the launch, they chose not to do so.
