The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Ltd, Allen Onyema, has called for unified aviation regulations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom to ease flight operations, reduce delays, cut costs, and strengthen bilateral trade.
Onyema made this appeal at a Lagos event hosted by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), themed “Trade without Borders: Aviation as a Catalyst for Bilateral Growth between Nigeria and the UK.” He noted that Nigeria and the UK maintain a strong trade relationship valued at nearly £8 billion annually, yet obstacles in air travel have long hampered growth.
According to Onyema, reliance on foreign carriers, high ticket fares, and limited access have forced Nigerian exporters to miss deadlines, while students and professionals pay excessive amounts for international travel. Airlines also face rising expenses from maintaining fleets abroad.
He emphasized that aviation must be treated as an essential economic driver rather than a luxury. “Aviation is the invisible bridge that connects nations, lowers trade costs, attracts investments, boosts tourism, and transforms aspirations into opportunities,” Onyema said. “When a plane takes off, it carries not just passengers but the pride, products, and potential of a nation.”
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Onyema praised President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for reforms that have supported local airlines. He also acknowledged Deputy British High Commissioner Johnny Baxter for backing Air Peace’s entry into the UK market.
Highlighting progress, Onyema announced that Air Peace will begin Abuja-to-London direct flights in October, expanding its role as Nigeria’s only local carrier currently servicing the UK route. The airline has also launched work on what will become Africa’s largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The 34,000-square-meter project, valued at N32 billion, is expected to create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Onyema further urged support for local enterprises such as the Dangote refinery, stressing that undermining Nigerian investments is “unpatriotic.” He called for fair and reciprocal bilateral agreements, faster cargo clearance, and sustained government backing to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector and solidify its place in global trade.
