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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for providing the critical policy backing that enabled the airline’s landmark Abuja–London flight and triggered a drastic 97% reduction in international airfares.
Speaking on TVC’s programme, ‘Your View’ on Friday, Onyema said Tinubu’s intervention allowed Air Peace to crash the fares from as high as $13,000 to about $3,000.
“I want to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pulling this off. This is a clear example of government creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
“You know I am not a sycophant. When I say something, I say it with my full chest. The president came in with so much might to pull this off for Air Peace. I’ve been on this application for eight years, but it was under this administration that it happened. I have His Excellency to thank immensely for that,” he said.
Onyema explained that Tinubu’s diplomatic interventions helped Nigeria overcome international aviation politics, paving the way for Air Peace to obtain landing rights and slash ticket prices.
“President Tinubu did the right thing for this country. His action forced foreign airlines to bring down their fares. We’ve brought the Abuja–London flight from $13,000 to $3,000. Every country protects its own, but the president deployed strong diplomatic negotiations, even threats, for Nigeria and for Air Peace,” he stated.
The airline boss disclosed that Air Peace underwent and passed rigorous international audits before launching its UK operations, saying: “We were invited and audited, and we qualified 100%.”
To make the route even more accessible, Onyema announced a 15% discount for full-time students aged 25 and below on economy class tickets to London.
He also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for implementing the president’s vision, noting that Nigerian airlines had regained access to international leasing facilities after being blacklisted for over 15 years.
“I cannot stop praising Festus Keyamo. He is implementing Mr President’s vision 100%. For over 15 years, Nigerian airlines couldn’t lease aircraft, but this administration changed that by signing the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction,” Onyema said.
He further lauded the government’s removal of the four per cent Free on Board levy on imported aircraft parts, describing it as a “listening and responsive policy” that has restored investor confidence in the aviation sector.
However, Onyema warned against what he termed “bureaucratic hostility” toward indigenous businesses.
“Some people still suffer from a pull-him-down syndrome. Destroying a company like Air Peace that employs over 10,000 Nigerians harms the country. When people lose jobs, insecurity increases,” he cautioned.
Reaffirming the airline’s patriotic mission, Onyema said Air Peace represents Nigeria’s pride on the global stage.
“Air Peace is not about Allen Onyema; it’s about Nigeria. Every time we fly our flag in London, we show what Nigerians can achieve when government and the private sector work together,” he declared.
Air Peace made history on Sunday with its maiden direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport, marking a new milestone for Nigeria’s aviation industry. The airline now operates 14 weekly flights between Nigeria and the UK—covering the Lagos–London Gatwick and Abuja–London Heathrow routes—the first time any Nigerian carrier has achieved such a feat.
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