Ojo Peter, Ibadan
Contrary to news report that Governor Seyi Makinde-led Oyo state government facilitated the commencement of flights to-and-from Ibadan by Air Peace Airlines, a senior staff of the airline company has disclosed that a serving senator from Oyo state actually initiated the discussion.
According to news report, sources close to the Ibadan airport confirmed that the airlines decided to enlist the Ibadan route following what was called “encouragements” by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
However, a senior staff of the Air Peace who is privy to the whole arrangement has revealed that the news report was far from the truth.
“The news report is pure fake. It’s fake because the statement did not emanate from the Oyo State government. As a senior staff of the Air Peace, I was privy to the whole arrangement starting from 2019. Truth be told, the discussion was initiated with our chairman by a serving senator from Oyo State who is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan. The lawmaker has been a friend of our chairman since 1984 during the school days and even after graduation in 1987.”
“After the lawmaker unofficially opened discussions of Air Peace flights to-and-from Ibadan Airport; our management commenced official discussions with the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria”.
The source noted that the FAAN is a service organization statutorily charged to manage all commercial airports in Nigeria and provide service to both passenger and cargo airlines.
“The Ibadan Airport is under the FG’s FAAN. The agency creates conditions for the development in the most economic and efficient manner of air transport and the services connected with it. The deal started in 2019 and it is good that the operation is coming to fruition” he said
Mr. Onyema Allen was admitted to The University of Ibadan in 1984 to read law and graduated in 1987. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 1989.
Recall on Monday 9th December 2019, the chairman of the airline, Allen Onyema announced that the airline would soon commence flights to Ibadan from Kano, Owerri and Abuja. The chairman made the categorical statement at the 2019 edition of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association luncheon and awards where the airline bagged the Corporate Award of Excellence.
He said: “Very soon, we shall start flying Abuja-Ibadan-Abuja daily, Kano-Ibadan-Kano and Owerri-Ibadan-Owerri three times a week. This is part of our no-city-left-behind initiative and our plan to interconnect various cities of Nigeria.”