- President Bola Tinubu’s envoy and Ethiopian Airlines officials met in Addis Ababa to discuss trade relations impacting airline operations
- Ahmed Abubakar, Director General of the NIA, led the president’s delegation at the meeting with Ethiopian Airlines management
A special envoy representing President Bola Tinubu and officials from Ethiopian Airlines convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to deliberate on trade relations impacting the airline’s operations in Nigeria.
Leading the president’s delegation was Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The meeting was prompted by several concerns raised by Ethiopian Airlines management regarding their operations in Nigeria, which, if left unaddressed, could potentially disrupt their operations and relations with the country.
Speaking to reporters from the state house following the meeting, Sola Enikan-Olaiye, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, emphasized the significance of resolving fundamental issues affecting the relationship between Ethiopian Airlines and the Nigerian government.
Enikan-Olaiye stated, “We will provide an honest and diligent report to Mr. President, who will then assess the report and provide appropriate instructions to our aviation authorities, particularly the Minister of Aviation. That is the primary objective of this meeting.”
He continued, “The issues at hand need to be addressed to enhance relations and fulfill the aspirations of the Nigerian people, as well as to further the government’s agenda in the aviation sector.”
Mesfin Tasew, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s outcomes, describing it as highly productive. He affirmed Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to continue serving the Nigerian public through its flights.