On the second day of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference in Abuja, the hall buzzed with conversations among industry players.
But when Dr. Allen Onyema took the microphone, the atmosphere shifted. Onyema, who was among the panelists at the event, spoke with a clarity and conviction that drew the attention of everyone in the room.
For the Air Peace chairman, aviation safety is not simply a regulatory requirement but a deeply personal matter.
He openly shared how his long-standing fear of flying has shaped the way he runs Air Peace, pushing him to insist on nothing less than the highest standards. “Because of my own phobia for flying,” he said, “I decided that if I ever ran an airline, it would work only with the best in the world.”
This commitment is the reason Air Peace relies on Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), one of the world’s most reputable and expensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations.
The costs are high, but Onyema insists that true safety demands such investment. “Safety is the backbone of passenger confidence,” he told the audience. “It is not negotiable.”
Onyema reminded participants that Nigerian airlines have recorded an excellent safety record for more than a decade.
Yet his concern extends beyond regulatory matters. Onyema expressed worry over the attitude of Nigerian travellers who often trust foreign airlines more readily than local ones.
He credited this to the rigorous oversight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which he said leaves no room for negligence. “The NCAA is serious about oversight. That is why our airlines are not falling from the skies. Any airline that cuts corners is already heading for bankruptcy,” he said.
He urged passengers to give Nigerian carriers the same confidence they give international operators, insisting that even the smallest domestic airline meets strict safety requirements. “We need to support our own,” he said firmly. “All Nigerian airlines are safe. There is no basis for fear.”
He also revealed that his personal commitment to safety shapes his own travel decisions. “Since founding Air Peace, I haven’t flown on any other airline. Even when Air Peace wasn’t operating, I travelled using my own Boeing 777,” he remarked, a line that drew quiet laughter but highlighted his belief in leading by example.
As the session ended, Onyema’s message left a strong impression: safety is not just a standard, it is the soul of aviation. It builds trust, inspires confidence, and secures the future of the industry. “The truth,” he said in closing, “is that we take safety more seriously than people think. And that’s why Nigeria’s skies are safe.”
