John Ashbourne, an African watcher and emerging markets analyst, has shaded the Federal Government for unveiling a Boeing 737-800 series aircraft that belongs to Ethiopia Airlines as the “Nigerian Air”.
According to the tweep, the air craft has resume regular service. It was flown in for a photo op, then sent back to Addis Ababa to Mogadishu route.
In his own words: “They flew it in for a photo op, then sent it back to the Addis-Mogadishu route. Legitimately very funny.”
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft which was displayed by Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation as belonging to Nigeria Air is back to regular flight service for Ethiopian Airlines, live tracker has shown.
Latest information on flight live tracker ‘flightrader24.com’ show the flight is back to regular service for Ethiopian Airlines on its Addis Ababa- Mogadishu route, which appears to be the same route it flew before being brought into Nigeria and presented as Nigeria Air plane.
The flight history of the aircraft show the aircraft had on Wednesday afternoon left Addis Ababa to Mogadishu and had done a return flight back to Addis Ababa by Wednesday evening.
David Hundeyin, independent journalist on Wednesday via his twitter handle, again drew people’s attention to the flight tracker.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Air Plane Flown Into Abuja Reportedly Belongs To Ethiopian Airlines
“The “Nigeria Air” Boeing 737-800 has had its hurried wrap job removed and is now back in regular service for @flyethiopian on its usual Addis Ababa- Mogadishu route – the same route it flew as recently as last week before being “commissioned” in Abuja by @hadisirika,” Hundeyin stated.
BusinessDay had on Sunday reported that the flight live tracker ‘flightrader24.com’ showed the Nigeria Air plane was back to Ethiopia where it was brought in from.
It had earlier reported Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation contacted Ethiopian airlines to provide an aircraft that would be presented to Nigerians as an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air.
Ethiopian airline had obliged by repainting and rebranding one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Investigations show that the Boeing 737-800 has registration Number ET-APL, Mode S Q4005C and serial number: 40965/4075.
Nigerians have reacted to Ashbourne’s tweet, with many blaming FG for the embarrassment.
A tweep, @SVPD08 said: “This is the embarrassment we begged the APC not to bring upon us. Now foreigners are laughing at us. I absolutely hate it here😖😖😖😖”
@thatgbagyi_boy tweeted: “We are now a joke to the world. Thank you APC.”
Another Twitter user who commented on the development @katch4u, wrote: “In a normal country some people would have been arrested. Especially the minister of aviation” while @chukwurachiweta describe the blunder as criminal.
“It shouldn’t be, this is Criminal….. Money has already been laundered for it” just as @Godspeed_best tweeted: “If this is funny, maybe you haven’t heard that snakes swallow millions here.”
