The Chairman/ CEO of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema has disclosed that the day President Bola Tinubu meets with the Nigerian Airline Operators, it will be uhuru for the industry.
Dr. Onyema noted that IATA has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world to operate an airline, citing high operational costs that continue to challenge the viability and growth of local carriers.
In his Keynote speech at the 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) held in Lagos yesterday, with theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth, ` Dr Onyema pointed out Mr Tinubu is a listening President.
He stated that: “The problem we are having is that Mr. President has not seen us. He has so many things to grapple with. The day he will see us, aviation will be Uhuru in this country.
It will benefit the agencies, it will benefit governments, and it’s going to benefit the flying public.
The day he will meet with us, that is the day there will be a revolution in the airline industry in this country. Because that man supports indigenous businesses. He does”.
Onyema narrated his encounter with the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi,
on 4% Free on Board (FOB) levy, a statutory charge introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service, for the airlines.
“The Controller General of Nigeria Customs Service is fantastic man. These are people who think the country, not just revenue. I said this 4% Free on Board (FOB) levy is going to hurt the airlines allies. That we’re already bleeding. This 4% will hurt us. He said, okay, let’s go and see the Presidency. This man handheld me. Within 24 hours, 4% was removed. Clap for the government. That is the power of listening”.
Air Peace boss maintained that there is no Nigerian Airline that makes over a million dollars every year as profit.
He emphasised that even Air Peace, the biggest airline, the biggest revenue generator, will not make one million dollars at the end of 2025.
In his words: “I don’t think there is anyone that makes over a million dollars every year as profit, none of them. Even the biggest airline, the biggest revenue generator, will not make one million dollars at the end of 2025. I don’t think there is any other airline that will do that.
It is as bad as that. Yet when we talk, we are treated with disdain, we are watched, we are derided, we are attacked, for nothing”.
“The problem is that the President has not heard from us on why his country was so described by IATA who equally compared Nigeria to Afghanistan.”
Dr Onyema also recalled that he promised to create 1000 jobs for Nigerians after the President removed airlines from paying the 4% FOB levy.
He said: “78000 Nigerians applied for the job and from that number 1000 young Nigerians were employed as he promised. The interview was held at the University of Lagos Auditorium”.
The Air Peace Chairman reiterated that Nigerian airlines will not grow if they continue to operate under numerous taxes and charges which is what is currently their situation.
He said that if the Ticket Sales Charge is made a specific amount of money attached to the ticket, it will help the airlines and it will even benefit NCAA, the other aviation agencies, the flying public and more in the long run.
