Dapo Olumide, the CEO of Nigeria Air, has acknowledged that the aircraft utilized for the unveiling of the national carrier was a chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.

During his appearance before a house of representatives committee on aviation on Tuesday, Olumide, the CEO of Nigeria Air, made an important revelation. He confirmed that the aircraft used for the unveiling of the national carrier was, in fact, a chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines. Olumide further informed the committee that the aircraft had been returned to Ethiopia approximately two days after the unveiling event took place.

In response to Olumide’s statement, members of the committee noted that the aircraft bore the colors of the Nigerian flag. This observation prompted further discussion and analysis regarding the decision to utilize a chartered flight for such a significant event in the country’s aviation sector.

Responding, Olumide said: “As a chartered flight, you can paint the aircraft in any colours you want”.

“On a chartered flight, the aircraft was to come to Nigeria to Abuja and go back 48 hours later.”

Furthermore, Olumide stated that the required procedures for the establishment of a national carrier had not been fully carried out prior to the unveiling.

“We have a five-phase process to go through with the regulator. After the five phases, you can get the AOC certificate. Until then, you do not have an airline. So we are in the five-phase process of getting the airline,” he said.

“We are in stage one. We left stage one but we replaced all the key management of the airline. We replaced all of them. When you replace them, you have to go back to phase one. That is the requirement.

“We have not gotten to phase two yet. We are going to go into phase two but to go into phase two, there are certain documents you must attach to your request. One of which is called the schedule of events. There are other technical documents. We are in the process of putting these together.”