The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed shocking documents signed by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, which reveal plans for a foreign airline to take over the operations of Nigeria Air. According to Keyamo, these documents, which were presented in a widely circulated video, contain details of an agreement signed between the Nigerian government and the Ethiopian government, and they shed light on the extent of foreign control that was intended for Nigeria’s national carrier.
In the video, Keyamo pointed out that the Nigerian government has no regrets about terminating the deal, which would have placed control of Nigeria's aviation ecosystem in the hands of a foreign entity. He expressed his disapproval by highlighting that the agreement essentially allowed Ethiopian Airlines to take majority control of Nigeria Air, with Ethiopian Airlines being the dominant shareholder. Keyamo also emphasized that this would have been similar to how Ethiopian Airlines took control of Asky Airlines in Togo, but he argued that Nigeria is not Togo and is a larger, more ambitious nation that cannot afford to cede such significant control over its aviation industry.
“You’ll be shocked by this agreement. It essentially allows a foreign government to take over our national carrier. Ethiopian Airlines was the majority shareholder in the deal. They did the same with Asky in Togo, but we are not Togo—we are a big and ambitious nation,” Keyamo stated during the video.
Keyamo went on to explain that under the terms of the agreement, Ethiopian Airlines would have gained full control over Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) routes, a move that would prioritize Ethiopian Airlines' profits over Nigeria’s interests. A critical aspect of the agreement, according to Keyamo, was that a national carrier holds first priority on BASA routes, meaning that handing these routes to Ethiopian Airlines would have meant that the profits generated from those routes would flow directly to Addis Ababa instead of Nigeria.
Keyamo firmly stated that Nigeria did not lose out on foreign direct investment by rejecting this deal. He revealed that Ethiopian Airlines had planned to use wet-leased aircraft to operate as a national carrier, and all profits would have been directed to Ethiopia, rather than Nigeria. Furthermore, he noted that key management positions, including CEO, financial officer, and director of operations, were to be reserved exclusively for Ethiopian nationals, which further underscores the extent of foreign control in the proposed deal.
He also drew attention to several alarming clauses in the agreement that were highly unfavorable to Nigeria. These included tax exemptions for the airline operating in Nigeria, no requirement for Ethiopian Airlines to make any local investments in Nigeria, and Nigeria’s obligation to act as a guarantor for any losses incurred by the airline.
In conclusion, Keyamo stated, “That is not a national carrier,” highlighting that the terms of the agreement would have effectively reduced Nigeria's control and sovereignty over its aviation industry. His revelations have sparked a conversation about the need for Nigeria to maintain full control over its national carrier and ensure that the country’s interests are prioritized in any future agreements.
Keyamo’s disclosure has sparked public debate and concern over the extent to which foreign interests may have been prioritized over Nigeria’s national interests in the airline industry, leading many to question the long-term impact of such agreements on Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests.
