Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace
development, has asked Nigerians to fully patronise Air Peace and other local
airlines flying international routes.
This, Keyamo said, is the only way local airlines can survive
stiff competition from foreign carriers.
On March 30, Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, commenced
its Lagos-London flight services — a landmark achievement celebrated by many
Nigerians.
Following the milestone, Allen Onyema, chief executive
officer (CEO) of Air Peace, on April 9, said some airlines are conspiring to
take his company out of business by underpricing the flight tickets for the
Lagos-London route.
According to the entrepreneur, the foreign airlines’
governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out.
Speaking to TheCable on Thursday, Keyamo said while he
cannot currently make a policy statement on what the Nigerian government will
do to support Air Peace, President Bola Tinubu’s administration would continue
to assist local entrepreneurs.
“The first thing is for Nigerians to fully patronise not
only Air Peace but all indigenous airlines on international routes. Before the
federal government does anything, let Nigerians patronise him and know that
this is our indigenous airline,” he said.
“As for government, I
cannot make any policy statement for the government now because I am a
minister. Whatever we can do, we will discuss that behind the scenes. But it’s
wrong for me to make a policy statement now.
“As I have said earlier, one of my main goals in office is
to help Nigeria’s domestic airlines grow and improve, supporting President Bola
Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Keyamo added that the federal government would continue to
protect Air Peace and other Nigerian carriers that may seek to operate
international service.