Bar Allen Onyema, Vice Chairman, Air Operators of Nigeris, AON. And the Chairman, Air Peace Airlines
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds the aces for revolution in the aviation industry in Nigeria
Signal has emerged from the radar and indicated that the Presidency would fittingly be the one stop source of solution to the persistent headwind that has continued to threaten the air transport industry viability and positive contributions to the national economy.
Hence, it was suggested that an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, would undoubtedly provide a one stop solution to the headwind the airline operators have since been wrestling with.
Dr Allen Onyema, the Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, made the assertion at the 30th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondent, LAAC, held on Thursday, 10th September 2026, at Providence hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos state.
Speaking at the event with the theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing government revenue demands with sector growth”, Onyema said his last audience with President Tinubu informed his conviction that Mr. President holds the aces to stave of the headwind bedeviling aviation.
Onyema said his last visit to Mr President yielded the cancellation of the erstwhile 4% tax on fuel on board, FOB, and within 24 hours the formal authorization rescinding the 4% FOB was issued by the presidency.
He affirmed that President Tinubu has a listening ear and would not support any policy that would attract immense disadvantages to the economy.
Dr Onyema, the Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, relate his testimony about his chance meeting with President Tinubu thus, “One thing I must say is that I’m certain any day President Bola Tinubu sees us, if they allow us to see him, because I know he wants to meet with us, that will be the day there will be a revolution in the airline industry in this country. Because that man supports indigenous businesses. He does”.
He said “I remember a few occasions when I visited him regarding the 4% FOB customs duty. He acted within 24 hours. I happened to be at the villa that day, not to see him, and I ran into the controller general of customs, a fantastic man. These are people who think about the country, not just revenue. He asked me, “Is it going to hurt airlines.” I said, “We are already bleeding. This 4% will hurt us.” He said, “Okay, let’s go see the president.” This man helped me. Within 24 hours, the 4% was removed. That is the effect of a leader with a listening ear.
Onyema who is also the Chairman of Air Peace lamented that the airlines are subjected to 54 different taxes and fees which would only succeed in killing the airlines if not abrogated.
He announced thus, “One thing I want to mention is that there are many charges. If I were to list them, there are about 54 that airlines pay. Even for international flights, it’s the same”.
He also noted that Nigeria was yet to execute the agreement reached among the ECOWAS nations. He reiterated that “Even our president signed the treaty on behalf of ECOWAS calling for a 25% reduction in taxes across West Africa. That has not been implemented anywhere yet” Onyema revealed..
The Air Peace Chairman however vouched for President Tinubu thus, “One thing I must say is that I’m certain any day President Bola Tinubu sees us, if they allow us to see him, because I know he wants to meet with us, that will be the day there will be a revolution in the airline industry in this country. Because that man supports indigenous businesses. He does”.
Onyema reiterated thus, “The problem is that the president has not seen us. He has too many things to grapple with. When he does see us, aviation will flourish in this country. It will benefit the agencies, the government, and the flying public.”
About Post Author
I humbly Concord to the submissions of the Air Peace Chief Executive on his clarification call of the presidency to mitigate on the tourbulente wind blowing in Nigera Aviation industry being his laudable submission at the LAAC 30th Conference held yesterday at the Providey Hotel in Ikeja GRA Lagos.I’m excited to be one of the participants.
Kudos to LAAC for organizing the conference not forget the numerous sponsors with the tagged “The Platform ThatTought An Industry How Talk to Itself” is appropriate and time piously.
I concur with the Air Peace Chairman’s submission in total at the LAAC 30th Conference held at the Providence Hotel Conference Center in Ikeja GRA Lagos.
I’m so excited to be one of the participants at the conference.