Air Peace takes delivery of new Embraer aircraft

• Airline boss laments delay, huge cost

Air Peace has increased its fleet of new aircraft with the delivery of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to the airline at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The aircraft 5N-BYG, named Nnenna Onyema, arrived at the airport by 1.55pm on Thursday and was received by the airline officials led by its Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, and other key stakeholders with the usual water cannon salute.

Onyema however expressed disappointment at what it took to clear aircraft despite government signing into law the removal of Value Added Tax on importation of aircraft and spares.

Onyema, who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the gesture, said the Nigeria Customs Service was going contrary to the signed law.

He lamented that the delay and heavy cost on the airline to clear the aircraft, which it said was amassing debt in insurance and other overhead after it arrived.

He said, “I want to thank the minister of aviation for the revolution he has brought into the industry. I want to thank the President for removing VAT from the importation of aircraft; for removing custom duties from the importation of aircraft and removing VAT from ticket fares.

“This President has done very well for the aviation industry by signing into law these demands that we presented to him. He didn’t waste time. It shows that the President is desirous and ready to support indigenous investments in this country. This is something that we are very proud of.

“I plead with the Federal Government to talk to the Customs to try and feel the pulse of the President of this country and his regime. We must always do things that will reduce the name calling or bad-mouthing of a particular regime. The Customs know very well that waivers have been signed into law yet I have aircraft on the ground for over one month; aircraft I pay over one million dollars for insurance, whether it flies or not.

“I pay over N490 million with a staff strength of over 3,000 people; our spare parts and engines will come into this country and the Customs will keep on keeping them and giving us all manner of reasons and bills to pay, even though the President of the country in his wisdom has signed into law these waivers. It does not depend on the whims and caprices of anyone anymore.”

He said an engine which should be cleared in one day had taken over one month to clear, adding, “In the neighboring Republic of Benin, it takes 48 hours to clear goods.”