President Muhammadu Buhari met with Girma Wake, the Board Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa on Sunday to exchange views on the operationalization of Nigeria Air.
A statement issued on Monday, by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said the President told the Board Chairman that it was a ‘weighty decision’ by the Nigerian Government to re-launch a national carrier, expressing confidence that ‘‘things will be alright.’’
Wake had requested a resolution of the legal obstacle halting Nigeria Air, in which Ethiopian Airlines has a 49% stake, from commencing operations.
He also requested the repatriation of the airline funds trapped in the country over foreign exchange challenges.
Wake, who met with President Buhari on the margins of the 36th AU Summit, admitted that the airline has been treated very well in Nigeria since it started operations 60 years ago in the country.
The aviation chief hinted that the airline had plans to expand operations in the country, with additional daily flight services to Lagos from Addis Ababa, as well as Abuja-Addis Ababa as soon as all the court matters are resolved.
