The Ethiopian Airlines Consortium has written to President Bola Tinubu, expressing concerns over Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo’s recent comments about the Nigeria Air project. The letter, titled “Ethiopian Airlines Consortium Plea on the Issue of the National Carrier,” was submitted on October 15 and received by the Presidency on October 17. It was signed by the consortium’s representative, Michael Adebayo.
The letter addressed Keyamo’s public use of the term “fraud” to describe the project and expressed dissatisfaction with his portrayal of the consortium. The group argued that such statements could damage the strong relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, a partnership spanning over seven decades. They warned that the negative rhetoric could also deter foreign direct investment, which is critical for Nigeria’s economic reforms.
The dispute centers around Keyamo’s recent statements in a Zoom meeting discussing the aviation industry. The minister reportedly raised concerns about certain clauses in what he called a “Master Agreement.” However, the Ethiopian Airlines Consortium clarified in the letter that the proper term is “Establishment and Operations Agreement,” a document signed and vetted by multiple Nigerian government agencies, including the Ministry of Justice and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The consortium provided evidence to support its stance, submitting copies of the agreement to the Presidency. They also challenged Keyamo’s assertions regarding staffing, tax measures, and operational structure, explaining that while it is common for initial management staff to come from a strategic investor, some Nigerians had already been shortlisted for key positions. Additionally, they clarified that profits from the venture, given the 51% Nigerian ownership structure, would largely remain in Nigeria, in accordance with local laws.
The consortium also debunked claims that Ethiopian Airlines planned to use wet leases or foreign pilots for the Nigerian carrier. They noted that Nigerian pilots were always intended to fly the aircraft, which were to be registered in Nigeria. Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had even allocated registration numbers for the initial fleet.
The letter emphasized that the consortium had followed proper procedures in line with the Nigerian government’s recommendation for a 51% local investor and 49% strategic partner structure. The Ethiopian Airlines Consortium became the preferred bidder after a competitive process in 2022 and engaged in rigorous negotiations with various government bodies, including the Ministry of Aviation, the ICRC, and the Ministry of Finance.
In closing, the consortium expressed its willingness to comply with any changes the current administration may make regarding the national carrier but urged President Tinubu to intervene and prevent further damage to the consortium’s reputation and the Nigeria-Ethiopia relationship.
The consortium’s letter underscored their longstanding reputation in the aviation industry and stressed that the public portrayal of their involvement in Nigeria Air as fraudulent was baseless and damaging. They called for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict to preserve the integrity of the project and foster continued international investment in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
