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Rumblings about national carrier as airlines reject Nigeria-‘Ethiopian’ partnership

Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation

*Local airlines, under the aegis of the Air Operators of Nigeria, have expressed concerns over the proposed partnership between the Federal Government and Ethiopian Airlines, contending the development could lead to capital flight, ‘aviation colonialism’, and ‘destroy’ the West African country’s airline industry

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Domestic airlines under the aegis of the Air Operators of Nigeria (AON) have expressed concerns over the proposed partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ethiopian Airlines (The Ethiopian) to form a national carrier scheduled to begin operations by December 2022.

The AON members stated that the agreement is tantamount to opening the West African country’s domestic aviation market to a foreign carrier.

The industry stakeholders maintained that the development could ‘decimate’ the local airline industry and lead to capital flight.

Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Spokesperson for AON and Chairman of United Airlines Nigeria, stated this when spoke Thursday during an online aviation town hall meeting.

The theme of the conversation was “Nigeria Air: The Solution to Nigeria’s Aviation Problems?”

The event was organised by aviation consultancy firm, Avaero Capital Partners, The Punch report noted.

Okonkwo said: “We have not seen anything Nigerian in this Nigeria Air.

“It is a camouflage of interest. The decision to set up a national carrier in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines is a policy somersault.”

The AON Spokesperson also stated: “The people in government have continued to demonise the local operators.

“Aviation companies have collapsed in other parts of the world, not only in Nigeria.

“What the aviation sector needs is support. The private sector will collapse with this (national carrier) arrangement. Nigeria will be losing much.”

He also noted that the proposal “must not be allowed to be sustained. “There is nothing Nigeria in this Nigerian Air.”

Aviation stakeholders speak on  deal

The Association’s reactions came as other aviation stakeholders, including pilots, aircraft engineers and aviation business experts who spoke at the webinar rejected the proposed Nigeria Air shareholding structure was absurd, and could plunge the country’s aviation industry into further chaos.

Roland Iyayi, a pilot, Managing Director of Top Brazz Aviation and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) reportedly said  the proposed national airline would help the Ethiopian Airlines to achieve its domination of the African market.

Iyayi observed that the Ethiopian national carrier had formed similar agreements in eight other African countries.

“This approach will decimate the local market. Agreement with Ethiopian Airlines will create cabotage.

“Ethiopian Airlines will come into our domestic market, lower fares (non-competitive fares) with the aim of taking over the market.

“The choice of Ethiopian Airlines will destroy our industry. We reject this totally,” said ex-NAMA Chief.

Iyayi stated: “In anticipation of the Single African Air Transport Market, Ethiopian Airlines want to dominate the African market.

“The government is meant to support local carriers. Ethiopian Airlines has partnerships in eight other countries in Africa.

“ET currently has 135 planes. The CEO of the airline has said its plan to increase their fleet to 250 planes in the next five years.”

He further alleged that “the intent is to go into the domestic market of all the African countries where they have footprints.

“This is simply aviation colonialism.

“If we take all of this onboard, you will wonder whether the government has the interest of Nigerian airlines at heart or not.”

In his remarks, Mr. Alex Nwuba, President of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, also said with Ethiopian Airlines’ having 49 percent stake in the proposed national carrier, it would be difficult for Nigerian Air to fly intercontinental routes.

Nwuba, a also a pilot and former Managing Director of Associated Airlines, said: “We do not think this is the best thing happening. It is not genuine.

“We reject it. Nigeria Air will not suffer any fate different from what befell the defunct Virgin Nigeria that could not go to the United States.

“This is clear in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement regulations.”

The aviation expert also queried why MRS and SAHCOL, listed as private investors in the proposed national carrier deal, had yet to inform their shareholders via the Capital market of their decision to invest in Nigeria Air.

He said: “MRS and SAHCOL have yet to put up statements at the capital market to inform shareholders that they will be putting some money in the national airline. This is unethical.”

Likewise, Babatunde Adeniji, an aviation expert and aeronautical engineer, faulted the shareholding structure of the carrier.

Adeniji was quoted to have said: “I don’t share the sentiment; the arrangement is such that you are using government funds to bring a competitor that will distort the market.

“We need to create a level-playing field. How can we make the industry sustainable? There is a need for transparency in the whole process of setting up a national carrier.”

Speaking at the webinar, Sindy Foster, Principal Manager, Avaero Capital, as well interrogated the transparency and shareholding structure of Nigeria Air.

Foster noted that “the local carriers are not being supported.

“Aviation fuel issues and forex access problems which affect their capacity to maintain aircraft are not addressed.

“Everywhere, we talk about the poor performance of Nigerian airlines but we do not support them.

“We need to support them to grow.’’

Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of West Link Airlines, echoed a similar sentiment as he declared that Nigeria has the capacity to establish its own national carrier without a foreign airline.

“This proposed national carrier should be stopped.

“The entity called national carrier is just a game to get what is touted as a national carrier owned by individuals.

“We have the capacity to establish our airlines. We should not allow ET to do it. Let an Ethiopian investor do it. The deal should be cancelled,” Mshelia said.

According to her, it is an insult to our (Nigerians’) sensibility, stating “we can develop our aviation sector.

“Some people just want to form a private carrier under the name of a national carrier.”

In his contribution, Olumide Ohunayo, Head of Research, Zenith Travels, wondered why the government had yet to be transparent about the deal.

Ohunayo stated: “There are vested interests in what is being touted as a national carrier.

“We should not skew it in favour of some interests. “If we must have the national carrier at all, then we should do in a manner that will be a level-playing field.”

Simon Tumba, an aviation expert, making his contribution at the webinar, asked: “How can Nigerian Air consolidate the Nigerian market, African market, and then the intercontinental market with this kind of arrangement?

“This project has personal interest. Every Nigerian must reject it. It shows that the project itself has issues.

“The private sector entities that have shown interest in Nigeria Air have yet to report this at the capital market. It is unethical.”

Benedict Adeyileka, a former Acting Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said, “Nobody has mentioned the interest of Nigerian professionals. “We have local operators that can operate.

“I am completely against Ethiopia Airlines as a partner, while I am in support of the establishment of a national carrier.”

In a similar vein, Gabriel Olowo, CEO of Sabre Network, an airline global distribution network, suggested that the government should simply remove ‘national’ and call its deal with Ethiopian Airlines a flag carrier.

Olowo said: “In aero-politics, how much support does the Nigerian government give our carriers to go on foreign routes?

“There is nothing national about the so-called national carrier.

“They should remove the word national carrier and call it a flag carrier, and then create a level-playing field for everyone to compete.”

Speaking at the forum, Group Captain John Ojikutu (Retd), a former Military Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, said, “We have tried in the past to have national carriers but failed.

“We should simply reduce multiple designations to foreign airlines and create more markets for domestic airlines. We need just two flag carriers.”

Government on course to set up national carrier: Ministry’s aide

Mr. Wole Shadare, aviation industry analyst, however, has a different opinion of the proposed partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

Shadare reportedly insisted that there was a need to give the government a chance to promote the deal, advising the Ministry of Aviation to review its plan.

Meanwhile, Mr. James Odaudu, an aide in the Ministry of Aviation, disclosed that the Federal Government is on course to set up the national carrier

Odaudu noted that one of the three leased planes would arrive in the country for demonstration flights in a couple of weeks.

The government, he said, is planning a dry lease of aircraft contrary to reports that the government is proposing a wet-lease arrangement.

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