Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, has voiced his opposition to the existence of Nigeria Air, the national carrier introduced under the previous administration.

Instead, he suggests that Nigeria should invest in a flagbearer airline, considering the current national carrier as “moribund.”

Onyema expressed his concerns about the shareholding structure of the airline, claiming that it heavily favors Ethiopia.

He argued that Nigeria is making the financial investment in the airline, while Ethiopia stands to earn a 49% stake without contributing any capital.

He revealed that in 2019, Ethiopian Airlines approached Air Peace for a partnership, but he declined the offer out of his patriotism for Nigeria.

He pointed out that the agreement for Nigeria Air allowed Ethiopians to hold all the key management positions, while Nigerians were given only the deputy position.

Onyema strongly criticized the unveiling of Nigeria Air in defiance of a court order, describing it as a disrespectful act towards the judiciary.

He urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to dissolve the project and initiate a new venture.

Furthermore, he argued against the concept of a national carrier, stating that it is an outdated idea globally.

He cited examples such as British Airways, which is a flag carrier owned by the IAG group, and mentioned that countries are moving away from the national carrier model due to its financial burden.

Onyema emphasized the need to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria and remove obstacles that hinder the growth of airlines in the country.

Regarding Air Peace’s plans to commence flights to London, Onyema shared the challenges they faced, including difficulties in obtaining destination rights and obstacles placed by regulatory authorities.

He praised the current Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for supporting their cause and fighting for fair treatment.

In addition, Onyema mentioned Air Peace’s support for the removal of the petrol subsidy and their plans to provide palliatives to staff members affected by the subsidy removal.

He emphasized their commitment to President Ahmed Tinubu’s stance on the issue.