Mesfin Tasew, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of
Ethiopian Airlines, says the company won’t be disappointed should Nigerian
government cancel the Nigeria Air project.
Tasew spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a conference
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In May 2023, Hadi Sirika, former aviation minister, unveiled
Nigeria Air, the country’s national carrier, in Abuja. However, the launch was
trailed by widespread controversy.
Prior to its launch, domestic aviation firms, under the
aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), had opposed the floating of the
airline over uncertainties in its ownership structure — a conflict that began
soon after Ethiopian Air was announced as the preferred bidder for Nigeria Air.
Consequently, a federal high court in Lagos restrained the
government from floating the airline.
On August 31, 2023, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation,
announced the suspension of the national carrier project.
Speaking on the issue, Tasew said if the government wants
the Nigeria Air project cancelled, it is fine with Ethiopian Airlines because
it was not the initiative of the company.
Expatiating on the position of Ethiopian Airlines, Tasew
said if the government prefers his company help change strategy, his company
will provide the necessary assistance.
“We have no issues; we will not be disappointed if it is
cancelled. We are just there to help. And if the parties ask us to help, change
their mind, change its strategy, we are fine with that. This is what we told
the Minister; that we respect whatever decision of the Nigerian government,” he
said.
HOW ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES GOT INVOLVED IN NIGERIA AIR
Tasew said Ethiopian Airlines was not initially interested
in the Nigeria Air project, but Nigerian government insisted that the African
airline has to assist in establishing the national carrier.
“Ethiopian Airlines didn’t have any intention or plan to set
up an airline in Nigeria. In May of 2022, when I took my current responsibility
(as Group CEO), a request came from the Nigerian government asking ET
(Ethiopian Airlines) to participate in a bid and help the Nigerian government
to set up a Nigerian flag carrier. It came in writing,” Tasew said.
“Initially, we didn’t want to go into that. We said we have
other initiatives in other countries and we were busy. But the Nigerian
government insisted that Ethiopian Airlines is an African airline, it has to
help the Nigerian government in setting up the national carrier.
“So, we had to respect them. We serve the Nigerian public
and government by flying to four cities in Nigeria; we couldn’t say no, we
cannot come and help you. So, we had to submit proposal, we had to respect the
Nigerian government.
“And we thought that the Nigerian government had choices, ET
being one; because they had also requested other airlines in the Middle East,
Europe to participate in the bid.
“I don’t know whether they participated or not. We submitted
our proposal and we received a letter from the Ministry of Aviation, saying
that Ethiopian Airlines has been selected to be a partner to set up the
airline.”
Tasew said the Nigerian government sought a structure of
Nigerian investing institutions and a 5 percent stake in the airline to have a
presence in the operation.
“We had a lot of discussions, we agreed but we had some
differences in some points,” he said.
TASEW GIVES CONDITION TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING NIGERIA AIR
As both parties were preparing the shareholder agreement,
Tasew said some companies in Nigeria — including airlines — began disparaging
and opposing Nigeria Air’s formation in addition to defaming Ethiopian Airlines
and the government.
“At that time, we thought that if the Nigerian government
doesn’t want it, the Nigerian public doesn’t want it, we could as well
withdraw,” he said.
“But the Nigerian government insisted that no, this is a
strategic issue for Nigeria and we have to continue.”
Tasew said the company had no intention to kill domestic
airlines when it decided to partner with the Nigerian government to establish
Nigeria Air.
Giving a condition for Ethiopian Airlines’ continued support
for the Nigeria Air project, Tasew said the government must resolve the court
cases.
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