“The secret of change is to concentrate all your energies not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” –Socrates.
One of the greatest preachers of all time, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, nicknamed “The Preacher Prince,” liked to tell stories like this. Apparently there was once a duke who rode a galley and went to the ocean floor to talk to the prisoners rowing the oars. .
When he asked several people what their crime was, almost all of them claimed they were innocent, blaming someone else or even accusing the judge of taking bribes.
One young man had a different answer. he said. “I deserve to be here, sir. I stole the money. No one is at fault but me. I’m guilty.”
When the duke heard this, he exclaimed: What are you doing here when there are so many honest people out there? Get out of their company now! ”The Duke ordered the young prisoner to be released.
So the young man was released, but the remaining prisoners continued to pull the oar. The key to his freedom was that he admitted his guilt.
For the past few weeks I have been ‘touchlighting’ the Nigerian Railways or the old NITEL, randomly highlighting what was once the fabric of a truly great nation called Nigeria, but this time I am sad to say that the same X-rays are used to image what was known in the past. Like Nigerian Airways.
The story of Nigerian Airlines! It is a story of ambition, progress and, unfortunately, eventual decline.
Nigeria Airways did not just come into being. It has soared from the ashes of colonial influences to embody the dream of a newly independent nation. Born out of the British colonial joint venture West African Aviation Corporation (WAAC), Nigeria seized the opportunity and gained majority control and eventually full ownership. This was an important step not only for the aviation industry but also for Nigeria to assert its autonomy on the world stage.
The 1960s and 70s were a period of rapid expansion that reflected Nigeria’s own postcolonial growth. Nigerian Airlines has become a symbol of progress and modernity. Investment in new aircraft, the opening of international flights connecting Lagos to major cities around the world, and a rapidly expanding workforce all testify to the airline’s ambition. It wasn’t just about carrying passengers. It was to connect Nigeria with the world and promote trade, tourism and cultural exchange.
This ambition was further accelerated by the oil boom of the 1970s. Nigeria’s newfound wealth led to the acquisition of state-of-the-art aircraft such as the DC-10, a symbol of technological progress. Nigeria Airways even had the honor of operating the last DC-10 ever built, a testament to its excellence in the world of aviation. The airline has become a major player in the African aviation industry, a source of national pride and a major contributor to the continent’s growing interconnectedness.
Sadly, the story takes a dark turn. Despite a promising start, Nigeria Airways became entangled in a web of mismanagement, corruption and political interference. What was once a sign of progress and modernization became a burden as the company struggled to manage its growing fleet and complex operations.
Debts began to accumulate and airlines found it increasingly difficult to maintain their aging aircraft. This has led to poor service quality and frequent delays, cancellations, and safety concerns. Competition from both established international airlines and emerging African airlines further worsened the situation.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, there were various attempts to bail out airlines. Restructuring plans, privatization efforts, and even rebranding efforts were undertaken, but deep-seated problems could not be overcome. The airline was eventually grounded in 2003, burdened with unpayable debt and unable to compete in the rapidly changing aviation industry.
Let’s use academic terminology here and do a short comparative analysis using two domestic carriers. The original Rwanda Air is Rwanda’s flag carrier and is known for its relatively young history (founded in 2002) and impressive growth. It has become a symbol of Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and aviation ambitions. Rwanda Air’s main hub is Kigali International Airport (KGL). Kigali International Airport (KGL) is a modern and growing airport that serves as the gateway to East Africa. Rwanda Air is focused on connecting East Africa with the rest of the world. It flies to more than 25 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
It operates the latest aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, including the A330 for long-haul routes and the Boeing 737 for regional flights. We have won awards for our cabin crew and overall passenger experience and have built a reputation for excellent customer service. We also place great emphasis on safety and are certified by the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).
Like many African airlines, Rwanda Air faces challenges including competition from larger airlines, infrastructure limitations and the need for continued investment to support growth. We are growing rapidly…
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines, a continental giant, Ethiopia’s flag carrier and one of Africa’s largest and most successful airlines, has a long history dating back to 1945. The company’s main hub at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is an important hub. Continental aviation center.
Ethiopian Airlines boasts an extensive network covering over 130 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. It plays an important role in connecting Africa and the world. She operates a large and diverse fleet of aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and Bombardier Q400, which allows her to serve a variety of routes.
As a member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, we offer seamless connections and benefits to our passengers. Ethiopian Airlines is known for its profitability and operational efficiency. It is consistently ranked among Africa’s top airlines and has won numerous awards for its service and performance. Ethiopian Airlines plays a key role in promoting aviation development within Africa, with a vision to become the continent’s leading aviation group.
I won’t go into the story of the last Nigerian Airways fraud scandal, but to put it simply, we remained deaf, blind and stupid to the greatness we possess. Like Rwanda Air, like Ethiopian Airlines. Believe me, these countries have very dynamic governance issues and not everything is golden, but we as Nigerians are in a bad spot. Our consolation is that we will get there, but my question is where will we go, but I actually think someone is waiting for us to get there. When you don’t want to go there, or you’re afraid of it, or you don’t even realize it’s there.
In 2030, Nigeria Airways will still be nothing more than the logo of an airline that crashed without ever flying. We will never know how much this drama has cost us as a nation. Why did Virgin Atlantic leave Nigeria? Why did Bellevue and Aero die? Why is Arik sick? Will Ibom and the humanitarian aid organization Air Peace be able to withstand the test? What is Rwanda’s way of doing things that we need to emulate?
If all our leaders are saints and no one commits any transgressions and no one sympathizes with Nigeria in its current mess, then we are far from salvation and the blame game You will probably leave it to continue. May Nigeria win…only time will tell when
