Aviation
External, internal forces worked against Air Peace Lagos-London operation – Onyema
External, internal forces worked against Air Peace Lagos-London operation – Onyema
Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, (CEO)Allen Onyema, says the airline faced internal and external obstacles before it could commence Lagos-London flight operation.
He spoke on Monday in an interview with Arise TV, adding that it took the airline seven years to commence operations.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, on March 30, commenced its Lagos-London flight services.
Onyema said, “We got the designation about six and a half years ago to go into London. Since then, it has been a cat-and-mouse game.
“We actually procured our three-triple seven because of this route, not for any other route because we wanted to give it the blow that it deserved at that time.
“However, we were not allowed to. Whether you like it or not, there is what we call international aero-politics which is very dirty. We applied for the third-country operators (TCO). You must get that one before you start going into any European country, UK inclusive.”
Onyema also recalled that when the TCO organisation from Europe wrote the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), asking if the agency knew Air Peace and its designation, the regulator denied the airline.
“My country denied us. So, they tweaked back. We went back to the NCAA and they said we did not tell them. Who designated us? The Federal Ministry of Aviation whose duty it was and it still is to do that,” he said.
According to Onyema, the airline was ready “but they (NCAA) said until they allowed us apply”.
“We got designation from the Federal Government and the NCAA, under the same Federal Government that was telling me that you should not make any application going into the UK,” he said.
He said this happened despite obtaining licences to fly to China and India.
Onyema said the NCAA did not find the airline worthy to fly to the UK, even though it is doing “over 160 hours of flying daily” in the country.
“No other airline in Central Western Africa does that much. So, the game is both from within and without. We were stopped. I’ll never stop saying it,” he said.
“So, we continued this cat and mouse game with the NCAA until Captain Musa Nuhu during his time said enough is now enough. Air Peace must be allowed to go in. What’s the issue? When the heat became so much, they told us to prove to them that we will be able to pass the TCO.
“If I don’t pass the TCO, it doesn’t mean anything, then I’ll leave. But allow me to go. They said we must prove to them that we will be able to pass the TCO. I said you come and audit us based on the TCO standard.
“They said we had to get consultancy firms from IATA to do that and IATA must conduct that and give their results. We paid a cost of over $200 million. We brought IATA and IATA conducted it.”
Onyema said Air Peace passed the test and wrote to the NCAA to approve the process to do an audit with the TCO Europe.
He said the TCO did not respond for over a year until the airline threatened to go to the press if their response was not received.
Aviation
248 Passengers Safe as Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing in Lagos
248 Passengers Safe as Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing in Lagos
An aircraft carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members made a successful emergency landing in Lagos after developing a mid-air technical fault, aviation and emergency authorities have confirmed.
The aircraft, operated by Qatar Airways, landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after the flight crew alerted air traffic control to the fault while en route. Emergency response teams were immediately placed on standby as the plane approached the runway.
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Officials said the aircraft executed a controlled landing, with all passengers and crew evacuated safely and no injuries or fatalities recorded. Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), FAAN, fire services and medical responders, coordinated the operation.
Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as rescue teams lined the runway, but calm was restored shortly after landing when passengers disembarked without incident.
The incident has again drawn attention to aviation safety in Nigeria, though authorities praised the swift response and professionalism of the flight crew and emergency agencies, noting that early alerts and coordination helped avert a major disaster.
248 Passengers Safe as Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing in Lagos
Aviation
VAT on Aircraft, Spare Parts Threatens Survival of Nigerian Airlines, says Allen Onyema
VAT on Aircraft, Spare Parts Threatens Survival of Nigerian Airlines, says Allen Onyema
The Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, has warned that Nigeria’s new tax laws threaten the survival of local airlines, arguing that the legislation reinstates taxes removed under the 2020 reforms. The taxes include customs duties on imported aircraft, aircraft parts, engines, and Value Added Tax (VAT) on tickets, which Onyema says will impose unsustainable financial burdens on airlines.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Sunday, Onyema stressed the high cost implications for airline operators.
“There is VAT on the importation of aircraft. For an aircraft worth $80 million, you are supposed to pay 7.5 percent. With bank loan interest rates at 30–35 percent, plus VAT on spare parts, it is unsustainable,” Onyema said. “If we implement that tax reform, Nigerian airlines will go down in three months.”
The Air Peace CEO also announced that the airline industry will no longer tolerate unruly passengers starting January 1, 2026. Onyema cited instances of disruptive behaviour by passengers on flights, including smuggling alcohol into the cabin, forcing upgrades to business class without payment, and threatening fellow travellers.
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He referenced a recent incident on a flight diverted to Manchester, UK, due to bad weather, where passengers staged a viral video accusing Air Peace of misconduct, despite British authorities confirming that over 200 flights were diverted that day.
Onyema emphasised that airlines will now enforce stricter measures, including blacklisting unruly passengers, asserting that the behaviour is currently being “supported by the system unnecessarily.”
The statement comes amid growing concerns over rising domestic airfares. On December 10, the Senate summoned the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, and industry stakeholders over soaring ticket prices. Subsequently, on December 11, the House of Representatives called on the federal government to reduce aviation taxes by 50 percent to ease costs for travellers.
Onyema’s comments highlight both the financial pressures on Nigerian airlines due to aviation taxes and the sector’s new stance on passenger discipline to safeguard safety and service standards.
VAT on Aircraft, Spare Parts Threatens Survival of Nigerian Airlines, says Allen Onyema
Aviation
NCAA arrests man who attempted to stow away on Overland Airways flight in Ilorin (Video)
NCAA arrests man who attempted to stow away on Overland Airways flight in Ilorin (Video)
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed the arrest of a man identified as Segun Martins, who attempted to stow away on an Overland Airways flight at the Gen. Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, in Kwara State.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident occurred around 3:02 pm, when Martins allegedly breached airside security and approached an aircraft preparing for take-off.
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According to the NCAA, the suspect attempted to hide between the aircraft tyres before he was spotted and apprehended by airport ground security personnel. He was subsequently handed over to the airport police division for further investigation.
During preliminary interrogation, Martins reportedly said he believed the aircraft was headed for the United States and attempted to escape Nigeria by concealing himself in the aircraft’s undercarriage.
The NCAA reiterated its commitment to ensuring strict security protocols across all airports in the country.
NCAA arrests man who attempted to stow away on Overland Airways flight in Ilorin
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NCAA arrests man who attempted to stow away on Overland Airways flight in Ilorin (Video)
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