More Controversies around the launch of Nigeria Air emerged at the Aviation Committee hearing in Abuja Thuesday when the Managing Director of the proposed national carrier, Captain Dayo Olumide disclosed to the Senate Committee on Aviation that the aircraft carrying the Nigeria Air livery, on May 26, during the launch of the project was an Ethiopian Airlines’ airplane on a chartered flight. Nigeria Air, on May 26 launched in Abuja Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Biodun Olujimi, had earlier expressed disbelief over why the former Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika tried to launch the national carrier ‘on the last work day of the Buhari administration.’ Meanwhile, explaining the Nigeria Air launch controversy, Capt Olumide, cleared the air over the launch misconception, said what transpired on Friday, May 26 was not a launch but an unveiling of the Nigeria Air. According to Olumide, the unveiled Nigeria Air plane launched by Sirika, with Ethiopian Airlines officials present, along with management staff of the Ministry of aviation, in Abuja, a chartered aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines ‘hired for few days to showcase the logo to Nigerians and shareholders.’ Olumide who was fielding queries by Senate Committee members, added that the aircraft that landed on the day of the launch ‘was a legitimate chartered flight which can be done by anyone who doesn’t have a license as long as you pay for it.’ “For Nigeria to operate an aircraft, the aircraft must be Nigeria registered. “The particular aircraft that was unveiled was not registered and came into Nigeria with a few days clearance from Ethiopia and was returned after use. “Nigeria only has airport license which is one of two licenses required for operating an airline and does not permit one to carry out commercial services operations,” the Managing Director said. “For Nigeria Air to get the needed license, Nigeria must have three aircraft before the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAO) will give the country air license to fly and the three aircrafts must be Nigeria registered aircraft. “There are five phases or steps one goes through to get the license and Nigeria is still in phase one of the process,” the ManagingDirector. He further added that Nigeria is not at a point of operating the airline yet, as Nigeria Air does not have terminal for international operations. Reacting to reports that passengers were seen on board the Nigeria Air aircraft and had purchased tickets, the Managing Director refuted the claims, saying ‘the passengers were staff of Ethiopia airline that were brought in and at the end of the unveiling went back with their aircraft to Ethiopia.’ Capt. Olumide was appointed in February 2022 to secure the air operating certificate (AOC) for Nigeria Air to fly and not to operate the airline. According to Olumide, ‘Nigeria Air was unveiled at the time it was to prove to Nigerians that the project was not a fluke.’ However, remarking, during the session, Senator Olujimi, also noted that ‘the aircraft used during the unveiling was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines and after the unveiling, the owners went back with their aircraft.’ Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, described the launch of Nigeria Air as ‘a fraud.’ Rep Nnaji explained that after meeting stakeholders in the aviation sector, ‘they largely denied knowledge of the launch.’ However, the Ministry of Aviation has clarified that what took place on Friday, may 26 was not a launch as claimed by the ex-minister, Sirika, but ‘an unveiling’ of Nigeria Air. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has announced reaching a resolution on activities and actions of the past Minister, Hadi Sirika in proceeding with the launch of the Nigeria Air project ‘despite a standing Court injunction against such, and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.’ “We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airline in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations. “A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. “We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof. “While the Committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation. However, such a process should be transparent and all embracing. “We, as a Committee, would not accept any attempt by any individual or group of individuals or organization to hide under the project and siphon our commonwealths. “Consequently, the Committee hereby resolves to: “1. Direct the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flights operations and every other actions with respect to the Nigeria Air; “2. Urge our new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President and C-in-C, to as a matter of urgency constitute a high-level Presidential Committee to undertake a holistic Review of the Processes of the whole Nigeria Air project, and advice the government on the way forward. “3. Ensure that all individuals, or groups, or organization involved in the controversial shenanigan named “Nigeria Air Take-Off” are brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned,” the Reps’ resolutions read. Oracle Today recalls that, Friday, May 26, Sirika after gathering notable dignitaries in Abuja for the inauguration of the national carrier, told the crowd: “Nigeria Air Limited has come to stay and, is a Public Private Partnership between Nigeria and Ethiopian Airlines which we hope will restore the glory of the Aviation Industry to meet international standards. “Right now processes have commenced for the aircraft to start Operation domestically as time goes on, we are expecting thirty-five aircraft more in the next five years to operate all over the world as Nigeria Air Limited,“ Sirika explained, adding that 30 aircraft are expected to form the fleet of Nigeria Air in the next five years. However, only one aircraft has arrived. And that one was not even a Nigeria Air aircraft but an Ethiopian Airline registered plane.