Int. flights: Reciprocity policy, positive development – Onyema

The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema has hailed the principle of reciprocity introduced by the Federal Government in granting permission to airlines to resume operations in the country ahead of the opening of airports for international flights.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika had said on Thursday that the country would only grant permission to airlines from countries that allow entry to Nigerians.

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Sirika had said the country’s position is informed by the ban placed by some countries on flights from Nigeria, and that Nigeria’s decision was taken in the interest of its citizens.

Onyema said this decision would elevate the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations and send signal to foreign airlines that it is no longer business as usual.

In a letter to the Minister, Onyema described the development as a positive revolution in the aviation world.

“You have, by this action, brought so much respect to our people and our nation. Nigerians all over the world are walking tall with enormous pride since the last few hours when the news broke out. This is the beginning of the end of the stigmatisation of Nigeria and everything Nigerian,” Onyema tells Sirika.

He lauded him for his overall commitment to the aviation industry, adding that Sirika has done so much to protect domestic airlines by spearheading earlier the policy that only Nigerian carriers should engage in evacuation conducted by the federal government.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has dispatched two of its Boeing 777 aircraft to China on national assignments.

The airline management said that the two aircraft were dispatched to the cities of Chengdu and Beijing respectively for important national assignments on behalf of the governments of Nigeria and China.

Air Peace said the two aircraft with registration numbers 5N-BVE and 5N-BWI, departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos Thursday night, just a few minutes away from each other.

“We evacuated 313 Chinese nationals in one flight and will return with over 300 stranded Nigerians. The other aircraft will be returning with expatriates at the behest of the Federal Government. Air Peace commends the Federal Government of Nigeria for standing by Nigerian airlines,” the airline said.