The group from Ethiopian Airlines has officially challenged claims made by Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo about the Nigeria Air project. In a letter to President Bola Tinubu on October 15, a spokesperson for the group, Michael Adebayo, asked for proof to back up Keyamo’s statement that the project is a “scam” and is meant to control Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The group explained that the deal they made is called the “Establishment and Operations Agreement,” which is different from what Keyamo called the “Master Agreement.” They also said that Keyamo’s claims are wrong because the management team would include Nigerians, not just Ethiopians, and there are no plans to avoid taxes in the agreement. Plus, they said that 51% of the profits would stay in Nigeria, and the aeroplanes would be registered in Nigeria.
The group stressed that their offer was made after a public call for proposals and was reviewed and accepted by the Nigerian government. Adebayo worried that Keyamo’s claims could damage the group’s reputation and the strong ties between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Adebayo asked President Tinubu to intervene, requesting that Keyamo stop spreading false information. The group’s letter pointed out the possible negative effects of Keyamo’s actions, saying, “If this continues, it could make it harder for your government to bring in more foreign investment, which is very important for your reform efforts.”
