Nigeria Airways’ Liquidation A Strategic Error, Says Airline Operator

An aviation expert has faulted the federal government over the liquidation of Nigeria Airways and the sale of its assets, describing the decision as a costly mistake.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, a former chief pilot of Associated Airlines, Capt. Mohammed Gbadamasi, said the airline could have been revived more easily if its properties had not been disposed of.

According to him, rebuilding a national carrier from scratch has proven more challenging than restructuring the defunct airline would have been.

“The government was wrong in the liquidation of the national carrier, Nigeria Airways. There was a hidden agenda behind the liquidation and the sale of its assets to the president’s friends in office at the time. It would have been easier to revive the airline from the carcass rather than laying a new foundation,” he said.

Gbadamasi argued that if there had been a clear and consistent policy to maintain a flag carrier, critical infrastructure, such as hangars, offices, and other prime properties, would not have been sold.

He further expressed doubts about foreign investors’ willingness to establish an airline in Nigeria, citing past experiences in the sector.

“It is not a curse, but no foreign investors will come and float an airline in Nigeria. The Virgin Atlantic experience in the country is still fresh in the minds of industry watchers,” he added, referencing the former partnership involving Virgin Atlantic.