Mr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, has called on President Bola Tinubu to dissolve the current structure of the national carrier project. During an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday morning, Onyema expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the entire project. He also refuted several allegations made against Air Peace by former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, during his appearance on the same television station on Sunday.
According to Onyema, who is also the Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the documents related to the national carrier project revealed that key management positions, such as the Managing Director and Director of Finance, were filled by Ethiopian Airlines employees, while Nigerians were appointed as their deputies.
Onyema clarified that the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines regarding the Nigeria Air project indicated that the airline would contribute $122 million as an investment, not in cash, but in the form of rental payments for their own aircraft to be used by Nigeria Air. He emphasized that it is Nigerian companies, such as the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc and MRS, who would be investing money in the project.
While acknowledging that the AON is not afraid of competition, Onyema stated that a national carrier is no longer a viable concept. He called on President Tinubu to dissolve the current setup of Nigeria Air and pursue an alternative approach.
Onyema expressed disappointment at Sirika’s attempt to portray Air Peace as an incompetent entity, describing it as “shameful.” He voiced concern that Sirika’s remarks would negatively impact the airline’s reputation and the industry as a whole. Onyema noted that as a former lawmaker and Minister of Aviation, Sirika should have been the leading advocate for Nigeria, but instead, his statements tarnished the country’s image.
Onyema asserted that a national carrier is an outdated idea, citing the example of British Airways and other flag carriers. He explained that the few countries that still maintain national carriers are doing so reluctantly.
He concluded by accusing the former minister and Ethiopian Airlines of contempt of court, emphasizing that the court order restraining the launch of the national carrier had not been overturned.
