The recent disclosure by Dayo Olumide, the acting Managing Director of Nigeria Air, regarding the chartered aircraft with the Nigeria Air logo spotted in Abuja has caused a stir on social media.
The aircraft, previously believed to be owned by Nigeria in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on May 26th, 2023.
Controversy arose following reports that the aircraft used for the Nigeria Air launch was an older Ethiopian Airlines plane.
However, Olumide appeared before lawmakers on Tuesday to clarify the misconceptions surrounding the aircraft used during the launch, confirming that it was indeed chartered from Ethiopian Airlines.
The acting MD emphasized that his primary objective is to obtain an operating license for Nigeria Air, which is still in its early stages.
During his testimony, Olumide addressed the technical aspects of Nigeria Air, stating, “I am pleased to be here to dispel the misunderstandings surrounding Nigeria Air. This airline was initially launched with its logo in 2018, and various developments have occurred since then that are beyond my control.”
Responding to Senator Olujimi, Chairperson of the Committee on Aviation, Olumide explained that the chartered aircraft in question did not require a license as it was a hired flight.
He further clarified, “If any one of us were to have a destination wedding in Senegal, we could charter an aircraft without the need for a license. You simply pay for the charter, and the aircraft transports your passengers.
That is precisely what we did. In this case, the purpose was to unveil the real aircraft, as all previous representations of Nigeria Air since 2018 were limited to pictures and drawings. It was crucial for our institutional investors, who are not aviation experts but have committed their funds for long-term returns, to see the actual aircraft.”
Regarding the Ethiopian registration of the aircraft, Olumide explained, “To operate aircraft in Nigeria, they must be registered with the Nigerian authorities by November 5th.
Since the chartered flight arrived and departed within a few days, it was not registered by that deadline. As part of our licensing process, we need to have three Nigerian-registered aircraft before the NCAA grants us a license.”
Olumide also highlighted the procedural steps involved in obtaining a license, mentioning the need to interview new post holders, such as directors of maintenance or chief pilots, which requires going back to phase one of the process. He emphasized that this is a normal and necessary practice and does not imply any wrongdoing.
In conclusion, Olumide addressed the mistaken perception that Nigeria Air had been officially launched due to the chartered flight, noting that there were knowledgeable individuals in the aviation industry who could have countered this on social media but chose not to do so
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