The Nigerian Senate has rejected a proposal in search of the revival of Nigeria Air, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently calling for a fresh legislative push to determine a viable national carrier.
This adopted deliberations on a movement regarding Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with China throughout plenary on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when an extra prayer in search of the revival of Nigeria Air was put to a voice vote however rejected by lawmakers.
Nigeria Air was a proposed national carrier venture launched below former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. The venture was finally suspended following allegations of irregularities and considerations in regards to the phrases of the partnership.
Senate rejects Nigeria Air revival
After lawmakers rejected the proposal, Akpabio initially described the matter as a lifeless problem, saying there was no must spend time discussing it additional.
- “It’s so simple. We don’t have to waste time discussing dead issues,” he mentioned.
However, he subsequently argued that Nigeria nonetheless wanted its personal national carrier and known as for one other senator to convey a movement that may enable the nation to revisit the thought.
- “Somebody should bring a motion that will enable Nigeria to revive its own airline. Nigeria should have Nigerian Airways. A national carrier should birth in this country carrying Nigerian flag as it used to be,” Akpabio mentioned.
He recalled that the previous Nigeria Airways as soon as had about 32 plane on the bottom and roughly 40 working throughout totally different routes.
Akpabio additionally expressed concern in regards to the problem of securing non-public plane for constitution and the stress on home airways in the course of the December journey rush.
Senate seeks direct Nigeria-China flights
The national carrier dialogue adopted deliberations on a substantive movement regarding Nigeria’s BASA with China, sponsored by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno
The movement known as for a assessment and enforcement of the settlement to safe reciprocal entry for Nigerian airways to function direct flights to China.
Monguno famous that multiple million Nigerians reside in China, whereas over 500,000 Chinese nationals reside in Nigeria. He argued that direct air connectivity might scale back journey time, enhance supply-chain effectivity, enhance commerce and restrict overseas change outflows related to worldwide journey.
Senator Abdul Ningi questioned whether or not Nigeria was receiving commensurate advantages from its relationship with China, given the Asian nation’s rising affect within the world economic system.
Akpabio additionally warned that Nigeria may need to rethink the privileges granted to Chinese airways if Nigerian carriers weren’t allowed reciprocal entry to function direct flights to China.
The Senate consequently urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to renegotiate the settlement to determine direct business air hyperlinks between each nations.
It additionally requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provoke diplomatic discussions with China on enterprise visa facilitation for Nigerian merchants and reciprocal slot allocations at Chinese airports.
The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance was directed to observe up with each ministries and report again inside 4 weeks.
How the Nigeria Air partnership collapsed
Nigeria Air was unveiled in July 2018 however suspended two months later over considerations about its viability. The venture was subsequently revived by way of a proposed partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
- In 2022, Ethiopian Airlines received the bid to handle the proposed carrier with a 49% stake, whereas the Federal Government was to carry 5%, SAHCO 15% and different buyers the remaining 31%. The airline was unveiled in May 2023 by former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.
- However, in August 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos declared the proposed sale to Ethiopian Airlines invalid and legally ineffective, following a go well with by the Airline Operators of Nigeria and different trade stakeholders.
- In October 2024, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo disclosed that the association would have required Nigeria to pay Ethiopian Airlines about $112 million over three years for the usage of its surplus plane, regardless of the plane being introduced as a part of its fairness contribution.
Keyamo additionally argued that the deal favoured Ethiopian Airlines by way of tax exemptions and indemnity provisions, in addition to management over key administration positions, together with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. He warned that the association might undermine Nigeria’s management over its aviation sector.
The minister maintained that the deal was not in Nigeria’s greatest curiosity and introduced the venture’s suspension in 2024. Meanwhile, Sirika faces prosecution over alleged cash laundering and contract fraud linked to the venture.
Nigeria Airways’ rise and collapse
Nigeria Airways was the nation’s former state-owned national airline, working from 1958 till its liquidation in 2003. It loved its strongest years within the early Nineteen Eighties, when its fleet comprised about 30 plane, however later suffered from mismanagement, corruption and overstaffing.
- By the time it ceased operations, the airline had amassed money owed of about $528 million. Its operational fleet had dwindled to at least one plane serving home routes and two leased plane working internationally, whereas passenger numbers fell from 2.1 million in 1985 to only 10,000 within the first quarter of 2003.
The collapse left 1000’s of former staff with unpaid pensions, gratuities and severance advantages. In September 2026, Nairametrics reported that the Federal Government had commenced an N18 billion severance settlement covering 2,700 former workers.
