BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
To reinforce his staunch belief in elevating safety far above profit, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, has declared that “there is no negotiation at Air Peace when it comes to air safety”.
He stressed that safety remains the foundation of passenger confidence and the survival of any airline.
He made the remarks during Day 2 of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC), themed “Elevating the Nigerian Aviation Industry Through Investment, Partnership and Global Engagements.”
Speaking as a panelist on the topic “Trust, Safety and Governance: Reinforcing Confidence in Nigeria’s Skies,” Onyema said his personal fear of flying has pushed him to insist on the highest global maintenance standards.
According to him, this influenced his decision to hire the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), widely regarded as one of the best and most expensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations in the world, to maintain Air Peace aircraft.
“IAI is very expensive, but safety is everything. Because I have a phobia for flying, I went for the best and the most expensive MRO company in the world to maintain our airplanes.”
Onyema emphasised that safety must be the top priority for airlines seeking public trust.
“For any airline to succeed and gain passengers’ confidence, safety must not be negotiable,” he stated.
He also defended the overall safety record of Nigerian airlines, urging the public to fly local carriers without hesitation.
“All Nigerian airlines are very safe. “I’m not speaking for Air Peace alone; I’m speaking as Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
“In the last 12 years, Nigerian airlines have not been falling from the skies because of the oversight the NCAA is carrying out”, he added.
Onyema commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for strict regulatory supervision, describing it as a significant contributor to the sector’s safety achievements.
He also lamented a lack of local support for Nigerian airlines, saying, “It is only in Nigeria you don’t find people supporting their own.”
Encouraging passengers to trust domestic carriers, he added: “Please, when you get to the airport, fly any Nigerian airline with confidence, even the smallest of them. When it comes to safety, they don’t joke with it.”
Onyema further emphasised: “Since I floated Air Peace, I have not flown any other airline. Even when Air Peace was not flying, I used my Boeing 777 aircraft.”
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
