ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has again faulted the agreement inked by the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari with Ethiopian Airlines on the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air.
According to him, the agreements of the deal were unfair on Nigerian airlines as the deal would create monopoly for Ethiopian Airlines.
The minister, stated this while briefing State House reporters on Monday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Keyamo said that reports on the issue had been submitted to President Bola Tinubu who will make a decision on the deal.
He said: “I cannot preempt my President. All the reports, everything, we have forwarded to Mr President, the issues we met on the ground.
READ ALSO: Keyamo Tenders Public Apology To Senate Following Ruckus
“But just to say that it would have been irresponsible of me as minister to take over office and close my eyes totally to those concerns.
“So because of that, we suspended it to say, let’s just look at all the issues and recommend. Now we have looked at all the issues and it’s before Mr President. But let me just give you one or two snippets because Nigerians who are quick to judge.
“In the agreement, you are giving tax waivers to Ethiopian Airlines coming into Nigeria, they ask for tax waivers for five years and you granted them to come and compete with your local airlines who are paying those heavy taxes, how? You want to create a monopoly?
“In the agreement, they also made a proposal that they would appoint everybody, top management, everybody, Ethiopia, in Nigeria and we agreed?” he queried.