Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mrs Dagamawit Moges has described the partnership between Nigeria and Ethiopia on the Nigeria Air project as a boost to African aviation industry.
Moges said this when she led the country’s delegation at the 41st General Assembly of ICAO on a courtesy visit to the Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika at the Nigerian ICAO Mission office in Montreal Canada.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Public Affairs, Dr James Odaudu, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
She described the project as a partnership between the two highest populated African nations that will impact greatly on the Aviation industry in the continent and intergovernmental relationships.
According to her, the government of Ethiopia, particularly, Ethiopian Airlines, is very excited about the partnership for the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier and hoped that it will open new vistas for partnership in other areas, political and economic.
Ethiopian minister commended the Nigerian government for picking Ethiopian Airlines as the Preferred partner for the national carrier out of the numerous interests that were expressed, assuring that the consideration would not be taken for granted.
Moges also said that Nigeria, with its position as a major player in the global aviation industry remained an attractive partner.
She expressed optimism that the establishment of Nigeria Air would be beneficial to all involved, including the Nigerian teeming populace.
Welcoming the Ethiopian Minister and her delegation, Sen. Sirika stated that the decision to establish the national carrier through a partnership was not because Nigeria lacked the capacity to do it, but because it wanted to avoid the issues that led to the collapse of the previous national carrier.
He said that the choice of Ethiopian Airlines was premised on having shown that government business could be run profitably, apart from being an African airline that had carved a niche for itself in the world air transportation industry.
Sirika described the national carrier project as one that was dear to the heart of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that its successful delivery amounted to a major boost to the development and success of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to which both countries are signatories. (www.dailylegendng.com)