A Federal High Court in Lagos has halted the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, as proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In 2018, the Nigerian government announced plans to establish an airline. The government stated that it would not own more than 5% of the airline, ceding control to private investors who are expected to invest $300 million in the new airline at its inception. The name and logo of Nigeria Air were unveiled in July 2018 at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom.
However, shortly after its proposal, the government changed its mind and announced the suspension of the proposed airline in September 2018.
Meanwhile, Tewolde Gebremariam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, stated in July 2019 that the airline was discussing and exploring possibilities to establish or support Nigeria Air.
However, the registered trustees of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), which include Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airline Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited, have filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government over the transaction.
Nigeria Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, and Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), are named as defendants in the suit.
In his decision, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa reordered the Nigerian government and domestic airlines to maintain the status quo in their suit relating to the establishment of the airline until the suit was resolved.
This came as the Federal Ministry of Aviation announced on Thursday that it would take all necessary steps to overturn the order that had halted work on the establishment of the national airline.
On Thursday, the judge ordered that the establishment of the national carrier be halted and adjourned the case until February 2023.