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 ascertain 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 undertaking launched beneath former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. The undertaking was ultimately 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 concern, 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 stated.
However, he subsequently argued that Nigeria nonetheless wanted its personal national carrier and referred to as for one other senator to deliver a movement that might enable the nation to revisit the concept.
- “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 stated.
He recalled that the previous Nigeria Airways as soon as had about 32 plane on the bottom and roughly 40 working throughout completely different routes.
Akpabio additionally expressed concern in regards to the problem of securing personal 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 referred to 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 stay in China, whereas over 500,000 Chinese nationals reside in Nigeria. He argued that direct air connectivity may cut back journey time, enhance supply-chain effectivity, increase commerce and restrict international alternate 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 international economic system.
Akpabio additionally warned that Nigeria might 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 ascertain direct business air hyperlinks between each international locations.
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 comply with 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 undertaking was subsequently revived by a proposed partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
- In 2022, Ethiopian Airlines gained the bid to handle the proposed carrier with a 49% stake, whereas the Federal Government was to carry 5%, SAHCO 15% and different traders 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 swimsuit by the Airline Operators of Nigeria and different business 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 offered as a part of its fairness contribution.
Keyamo additionally argued that the deal favoured Ethiopian Airlines by 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 may undermine Nigeria’s management over its aviation sector.
The minister maintained that the deal was not in Nigeria’s finest curiosity and introduced the undertaking’s suspension in 2024. Meanwhile, Sirika faces prosecution over alleged cash laundering and contract fraud linked to the undertaking.
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 accrued money owed of about $528 million. Its operational fleet had dwindled to 1 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 workers 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.
