President Muhammadu Buhari met with Ethiopian Airlines Board chairman, Girma Wake, in Addis Ababa on Sunday, during which they exchanged views on the operationalisation of Nigeria Air.
Wake had requested a resolution of the legal obstacle halting Nigeria Air, in which Ethiopian Airlines has 49 per cent stake, from commencing operations.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, Wake also requested the repatriation of the airline’s funds trapped in the country over foreign exchange challenges.
On Nigeria Air, President Buhari told the Ethiopian Airlines Board chairman that it was a ‘weighty decision’ by the Nigerian government to re-launch a national carrier, expressing confidence that ‘‘things will be all right.’’
Wake , who met with President Buhari at the sidelines of the 36th AU Summit, said the airline had been treated very well in Nigeria since it started operations 60 years ago in the country.
“Nigeria is not just a market but a hub for aviation in Africa. Nigeria is a special country and nobody travels more around the globe than Nigerians,” he said.
The aviation chief, who was accompanied on the visit by Mesfin Tasswe, group chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, and Daniel Abebe, group vice president, Strategic Planning and Alliances, hinted that the airline had plans to expand operations in the country, with additional daily flight services to Lagos from Addis Ababa, as well as Abuja-Addis Ababa.
He further stated that the airline and its partners were ready to commence operations about Nigeria Air as soon as all the court matters are resolved.
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