Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Mr Allen Onyema, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive support for indigenous airlines, saying the federal government’s intervention made possible Air Peace’s historic direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow and helped crash international airfares from $13,000 to $3,000.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Onyema described the launch of the Abuja–London route as a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s aviation industry and a triumph of public-private collaboration.
“First of all, we must show gratitude to God Almighty. Without Him, nothing is possible,” Onyema said. “I also want to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pulling this off. This is an example of government paving the way for the private sector to thrive. No country develops without the private sector, because it is the private sector that embodies and implements the visions and aspirations of government.”
Onyema noted that the President “did the right thing for the country,” saying his administration’s intervention made foreign airlines reduce their ticket prices drastically.
“Prices have come down from $13,000 from Abuja to Heathrow; we’ve brought it down to $3,000,” he said. “We’re saving money for our country and making it affordable for Nigerians and the entire flying public. Even Britons on our flight were happy because competition has arrived.”
The Air Peace boss explained that the airline now operates 14 weekly flights between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, connecting Lagos to London Gatwick and Abuja to Heathrow.
“This is the first time any Nigerian airline will be flying both the Lagos–London Gatwick and Abuja–London Heathrow routes simultaneously,” he said. “It’s opened the corridor not just to Europe but to the entire world. Many of our passengers are connecting to America, Canada and Asia through London, saving a lot of money with our affordable fares.”
Onyema said Air Peace’s entry into the lucrative UK route has forced foreign airlines to review their fares, benefiting all travellers.
“Even if you don’t fly Air Peace, you can now fly other airlines at reduced fares,” he added. “Air Peace cannot fly everybody, but at least Nigerians now have a choice.”
He praised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for implementing President Tinubu’s vision for the aviation sector.
“I cannot stop praising Festus Keyamo,” Onyema said. “He is implementing the mandate and vision of Mr President 100 percent. This is the first time airlines in Nigeria will have leasing options. For over 15 years, the industry was blacklisted, but this administration changed everything. They signed the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction that allows big leasing companies to come into Nigeria. The government has given Nigerian aviation a new lease of life.”
Onyema disclosed that in a few days, the first aircraft under the new leasing arrangement will arrive Nigeria courtesy of Airbus, adding that the development was celebrated globally.
“The entire world gathered in Dublin to celebrate Nigeria’s clarity and progress in aviation,” he said. “This administration has achieved what others could not. We in the airline industry are very grateful to Mr President.”
Explaining the significance of the new London route, Onyema said Air Peace now provides unmatched connectivity across Nigeria.
“If you are flying into Abuja from Heathrow, you land at 6 a.m., and by 8 a.m., our flights are leaving Abuja for Enugu, Calabar, Kano, Gombe, Yola and other cities,” he said. “You can buy a single ticket—Heathrow to Enugu or Gatwick to Kano—and we’ll handle your luggage through to your final destination. No other airline offers this connectivity in Nigeria.”
Onyema also called for the development of proper transit hubs in Nigerian airports to make them competitive and attract international traffic.
“Nigeria is geographically well placed in the centre of the world, but our airports were not hub-friendly,” he said. “If someone is flying from Douala to Senegal through Nigeria, they must pay visa fees, go through immigration and customs—nobody wants that. The current administration is addressing this. Plans are underway to create proper transit facilities, and both Customs and Immigration are cooperating. We’ve never had it so good.”
He said the President’s responsiveness to industry concerns has boosted investor confidence in aviation.
“When we complained about the 4% FOB levy on imported aircraft parts, the President removed it immediately,” Onyema said. “We’re not asking the government for money—just supportive policies. And that’s what we’re getting now.”
Addressing domestic ticket prices, Onyema explained that aviation costs remain globally dollarised, but local fuel production by Dangote Refinery is helping to reduce costs.
“Aviation is universal,” he said. “Fuel accounts for about 40% of operating costs, and in Nigeria, it used to be 70%. With Dangote’s local refining, costs are coming down. Everything in aviation is dollarised—nothing is made in Nigeria. Yet, our tickets cost less than $100, among the lowest globally.”
On why Air Peace has not yet listed publicly on the stock exchange, Onyema said the decision was strategic.
“Many people tell me to go public and cash out, but I want to build a solid foundation first,” he said. “Legacy matters to me. I don’t want to sell out to foreign interests who would take their profits abroad and destroy what we’ve built. When we’re ready, we’ll go public on our own terms.”
Onyema also cautioned against what he called “pull-him-down syndrome” in Nigeria’s bureaucracy.
“Some government agencies and individuals still don’t see beyond their noses,” he said. “If you try to destroy an industry like Air Peace that provides over 10,000 jobs, you’re harming the nation. People who lose jobs become kidnappers or armed robbers. So, protecting productive enterprises is in everyone’s interest.”
He concluded by reaffirming Air Peace’s commitment to Nigeria’s growth and to flying the country’s flag with pride.
“Air Peace is not about Allen Onyema—it’s about Nigeria,” he said. “Every time we fly our flag high in London or anywhere else, it shows what Nigerians can achieve when government and the private sector work together.”
Boluwatife Enome
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