Allen Onyema Explains How NCAA Prevented Air Peace From Starting Nigeria-London Route For 7 Years

Allen Onyema

ACCORDING to Air Peace's CEO, Allen Onyema, the airline had to overcome both internal and external challenges before it could start operating flights between Lagos and London.

The Nigerian flag carrier Air Peace began offering flights between Lagos and London on March 30.

It took seven years to be able to start operations, according to Onyema.

Onyema said, “We got the designation about 6 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.

According to Onyema, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was contacted by the European TCO organization to inquire about Air Peace's classification. However, the NCAA responded by refusing to acknowledge 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.

The airline was prepared, but the NCAA stated, “until they allow us to apply,” according to Onyema.

“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 added that this was the case even though he had airline licenses to China and India.

Notwithstanding the airline's more than 160 hours of flawless flying per day in the UK, Onyema claimed NCAA did not consider it worthy of operating flights there.

He continued, “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.

“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 have 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.”

According to Onyema, Air Peace passed the exam, and she went on to write to the NCAA to get permission to conduct an audit with TCO Europe.

He stated that after the airline threatened to contact the media if the TCO did not respond, they did not reply for more than a year.

Meanwhile, he claimed that all of the airlines flying from this location to Lo are defrauding the nation.

According to Onyema, passengers were overpaying by five times for airline tickets.