Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, has announced that the Ethiopian Airlines emerged the core investor in the Nigerian National Carrier, Nigeria Air, following a competitive bidding.
Sirika told a news conference on Friday in Abuja that the Ethiopian Airlines won the bid with a consortium that would have controlling shares in the airline.
The minister disclosed that only the Ethiopian Airlines met the bidding evaluation criteria and the deadline and that it would hold 49 per cent equity with other consortium holding 46 per cent.
The report by Punch newspaper quoted the minister as saying the Nigerian Government would have only five per cent equity in the new airline project.
While noting that only Ethiopian Airlines met the bidding evaluation criteria and the deadline, Sirika said it would hold 49 per cent equity with other consortium holding 46 per cent.
According to the minister, the Federal Government will have only a five-per cent equity in the Carrier project.
The minister also announced that Nigeria Air would be launched this year.
Meanwhile, a statement by Nigeria Air Limited on Friday said: “Nigeria Air Limited, the new National Carrier of Nigeria will be launching shortly with Boeing 737-800 (NG) aircraft, followed thereafter with B787 aircraft for International Operations.”
It added that the airline would be owned by a Nigerian private Investor Consortium.
GIK/APA