Stop Nigeria Air Project Now, Expert Writes Tinubu

As the Ethiopian Airlines prepares for the commercial operation of Nigeria Air, an Aviation Expert, Capt Benson Ikponmwosa, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to halt the operation of the airline, saying Nigeria has nothing to benefit from the set-up.

In an open letter to President Tinubu and a copy made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday titled, ‘Nigeria Air: Please Stop The Steal’, the aircraft captain said the country won’t benefit from the set-up in any way but would be trapped into another regime of sovereign debt.

According to him, the whole process of the Nigeria Air project is nothing, but a STEAL, that only the President can stop.

He said, “The whole charade is nothing, but a STEAL, and only you sir, can stop them now. The clear definition of a National Airline, is one owned by the government and people of a country, and it is associated with the National identity and character of that country. This is not only in the colour of the aircraft flown but specifically in the licensing and documentation thereof.

“Please, note sir, foreigners cannot be part of any National Airline as the idea of foreigners owning large/majority shares in any National Airline negates the very principle of the character and identity of the National Airline. However, foreigners may be part of any private Airline designated as a flag carrier. With the foregoing, therefore, all Nigerians can see that Nigeria Air, as presently conceptualised, does not meet the standard to be called our National Airline. It is not owned by Nigeria, in any shape or form, and it is only to serve a negative purpose.

“While their shareholding structure shows that the Nigerian government owns per cent shares, Nigerian local investors have 46 per cent shares and Almighty Ethiopian Airline has 49 per cent shares, the majority shareholder and the controller of the enterprise (Ethiopian Airlines) is being carefully disguised. This is how; we are told that the per cent given to the Nigerian government is free, gratis, never to be paid for, and coming from the hearts of the investors.”

“I expect that somewhere, it is written, that the government shares are not a board voting block of shares. Therefore the government would not be expected to use their five per cent unpaid for shares to vote alongside the Nigerian investors in order to override Ethiopian Airlines who have 49 per cent.”

Let it be known here that the so called experts collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines are committing treason in their attempt to see this Nigeria Air through as it is.

Ikponmwosa further warned that any aviation experts who joined in seeing the project through is commiting a treasonable offence.

He said Nigeria Air is not Nigerian in any shape or form, stressing that It is Ethiopian Airlines all over.

“Let it be known here that the so-called experts collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines are committing treason in their attempt to see Nigeria Air through as it is. Nigeria, our country, has been the prime target of Ethiopian Airlines for many years and they have tried, over those several years, to do it.

“Finally it’s about to be done, they have their goal in sight through Nigeria Air. Make no mistakes sir, Nigeria Air is not Nigerian in any shape or form. It is Ethiopian Airlines all over. Even today, they are the only Airline operating out of four or more of our airports in Nigeria as if they were a domestic Airline. How did this happen? What is our Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) agreement with that country? What is our gain in aviation from Ethiopia? Today, if we had a National Airline and it is trading properly, it would not fly to Addis Ababa for any reason, because there is simply no profitability there.”

“At least, 50 per cent of Ethiopian Airline passengers worldwide are Nigerians and that is verifiable. This is without handing over our BASA rights. Imagine the situation when they get their hands on our BASA rights via Nigeria Air as is been planned.

“In their quest for this project, Ethiopian Airlines even set up an Airline in Togo in order to get at the Nigerian market. ASKY is the name of that Airline and today, it happily carries Nigerian passengers to New York, UK and various parts of the world from Nigeria as if it is a Togolese Airline exercising their BASA rights. But ASKY is not Togolese in any form. It was set up and owned by Ethiopian Airlines.”

“With more than forty five years in the aviation industry, your Excellency, I know what I am talking about. Nigeria Air is a STEAL no more no less. Please stop it in the interest of our collective patrimony.  

“STOP THE STEAL sir, even as you defend the sovereignty of Nigeria. We can get our own truly National Airline without breaking the bank or having a rival country as technical partner. We do not need to give away our birthright,” Ikponmwosa concluded.