Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew blames politics for the failure of Nigeria Air. Despite plans to establish a profitable national carrier in partnership with the Nigerian government, the project was halted due to opposition from local airlines and the change in government. Ethiopian Airlines has since ceased further plans.Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew, has attributed the failure of the Nigeria Air project to political interference.
The airline, which was intended to be Nigeria's national carrier, faced significant opposition from local airlines and was ultimately halted after the change in government.
The partnership, initially supported by former President Buhari and ex-aviation minister Hadi Sirika, aimed to create a profitable and reliable airline using Ethiopian Airlines' expertise.
However, Nigerian airlines feared the competition, leading to widespread controversy. Current aviation minister Festus Keyamo has stated that the deal was not beneficial for Nigeria, and the project has since been abandoned.
Tasew expressed disappointment, highlighting that Ethiopian Airlines had no further plans to engage with the Nigerian aviation sector due to the politicization of the project. He noted that their intentions were misunderstood, with local airlines perceiving Ethiopian Airlines' involvement as a threat rather than an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria's aviation industry.
The controversy surrounding the deal reflects broader challenges in establishing sustainable partnerships within Nigeria's complex political and economic environment.
Despite the setback, Ethiopian Airlines remains one of Africa's leading carriers, although its attempt to expand into Nigeria has come to an unfortunate end.
