The jet that landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 26, 2023 was a chartered one from Ethiopia, according to Nigeria Air’s managing director Dayo Olumide.
On Monday, Olumide revealed this in response to inquiries from senators, noting that the airline had just been created and that obtaining an operating license for it was his personal responsibility.
“It is a pleasure to be here and to finally lay out our position where I can dispel all the myths about Nigeria Air as it relates to the technical aspects of it,” Olumide stated.
“As you are aware, this airline debuted its logo in 2018. Since then, a number of events have happened that are unrelated to me.
“I was invited in February of last year; my responsibility is to obtain an air operating certificate for the airline, not so much to run the company as to obtain a pilot’s license. And I am solely responsible for that.
Senator Olujimi, chair of the committee on aviation, expressed anger with the committee when she said that the Nigeria Air’s entire operation was mired in controversy.
Olumide stated in response to Olujimi’s inquiry that the aircraft that entered the nation that day was hired since it did not require a license.
I’d want to start by answering your question before I continue, he said. The plane that arrived and departed was a valid charter flight. Any of us can rent a plane if we want to get married somewhere else, like Senegal.
“You don’t need a license to do that; all you have to do is charter an airplane, which will be delivered here once you paid for it, load your passengers, and take off.
“And we took that action. However, it was to reveal in this instance. Since 2018, the only thing you have seen about Nigeria Aircraft has been images and sketches—not the actual aircraft. We decided it was time to display what the actual aircraft will look like and to inform shareholders as well.
“As you can see, we have institutional investors who aren’t in the aviation industry but who are investing for 10 or 15 years with the possibility of a premium exit. They therefore need to view the actual aircraft in person.
So that they could see how the airplane will appear, we brought it in here. The social media component then entered the picture.
It is a registered Ethiopian vehicle. Why is it registered in Ethiopia? On November 5, all aircraft must have Nigerian registration in order to be operated there. Because it was a chartered trip and it arrived with only a short period of clearance before taking off, the aircraft was not registered on November 5th.
“Among other requirements, we must have three aircraft before the NCA will grant us a license, and those three aircraft must be registered in Nigeria for us to get that license, which is my mandate.”
“Among other requirements, we must have three aircraft before the NCA will grant us a license, and those three aircraft must be registered in Nigeria for us to get that license, which is my mandate.”
To obtain a license, one must complete five steps. We moved from the first to the second, but the issue arises when you swap out what are known as post holders.
“Post holder” is a technical name for director of maintenance and chief pilot. If you totally replace them, you must go back to step one and interview the new candidates to ensure that they are in compliance with the authority and civil authority. However, just because you went back to phase one doesn’t mean you did anything incorrectly. That procedure is appropriate and typical.
“So when this aircraft arrived on a chartered flight, everyone announced that Nigeria Air had been created.
There are knowledgeable individuals in the aviation sector who could have refuted it when social media first emerged, but they opted not to.