Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, has revealed that the airline will not go public until it has built a fully solid foundation that guarantees long-term sustainability and national benefit.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Onyema said his decision was driven by principle rather than profit, stressing that the company’s legacy and the interest of Nigerians take precedence over personal or financial gain.
“A lot of people have told me to go public and cash out, but my family and I refuse. We don’t believe the foundation is 100% solid yet,” Onyema said. “We want to make it very solid before that happens because it’s the legacy that matters to us. If I wanted to make money tomorrow, I could go public.”
He further explained that several foreign investors have expressed interest in buying into the airline, but he rejected such offers to protect Nigerian jobs and revenue.
“A lot of countries want to come and buy Air Peace or partner with us, but that would take jobs and revenue out of Nigeria. So we’ll only go public when we’re sure it won’t hurt the country or our workers,” he stated.
Onyema also highlighted the role of Air Peace in reducing international airfares and reshaping Nigeria’s aviation reputation.
“The President did the right thing for the country. And today prices have come down from $13,000 from Abuja to Heathrow. We brought it down to $3,000,” he said.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an environment that supports private enterprises, describing it as a major factor in Air Peace’s recent successes.
“This is an example of the government paving the way for the private sector to thrive. Because no country develops without the private sector,” Onyema said.
The Air Peace boss also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for implementing policies that have boosted local airlines’ capacity to compete internationally.
“This is the first time airlines in this country will be having dry lease options. It never happened in the last 15 years. Nigeria was unofficially blacklisted, but this regime changed everything,” he said.
Highlighting the connectivity advantage of Air Peace’s Abuja–Heathrow service, Onyema added: “You can buy tickets from London Heathrow to Owerri, Enugu, Calabar, Kano, Gombe, Yola—everywhere.
We help you move your luggage to the next flight, so you don’t need to check in again. That connectivity—no airline in the world flying to Nigeria will give it to you. It’s only Air Peace that does that.”
With Air Peace now operating multiple domestic, regional, and international routes, Onyema said the airline’s focus remains on strengthening its structure, supporting Nigeria’s economy, and ensuring that its growth benefits the nation for generations to come.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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