The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has expressed concern over the high cost of doing aviation business in Nigeria, stating that over 70 percent of airlines that commenced operations in the country have ceased to exist.
He attributed this alarming rate of business failure to the high and multiple charges imposed on airlines by the government and its agencies, which have made Nigeria one of the most expensive places in the world to operate an aviation business.
Beyond taxes and charges, Onyema noted that while interest rates in some countries stand at around 4 percent, making borrowing more accessible, the same rate in Nigeria hovers between 29 and 33 percent. This makes borrowing for airlines both risky and prohibitively expensive.
He warned that if charges and taxes are not reviewed downward, more airlines will collapse, describing Nigeria as having the highest mortality rate for aviation businesses globally.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on ARISE News on Monday, Onyema called on Nigerians to boycott South Africa and cease investing in the country in response to recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians.
Onyema expressed support for calls by some Nigerians to retaliate against South Africa, but insisted that such action must be non-violent.
On the xenophobic attacks, Onyema said: “I totally agree that there should be a stop to foolishness.”
He questioned the response of South African authorities, stating: “Every time they do this, and they get the support of their government, I don’t understand how all of a sudden South Africa lacks police force, lacks the military, lacks every security agency that could have stopped these people.”
Onyema argued that many Nigerians in South Africa contribute significantly to the country’s economy through entrepreneurship and investment, noting that some left Nigeria with their money to invest in South Africa.
“What have they done? The shops they are running, what kind of employment did you provide for him to run a shop? He brought money from Nigeria and opened a shop in your country to help your country and help you. The best you could have done is to learn from these Nigerians and acquire some entrepreneurial skills,” he said.
Onyema said the response to South Africa should be economic and non-violent rather than confrontational. He expressed support for Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s call for retaliation, but clarified the kind of action he favours.
“Let us do non-violent retaliation. I don’t want Nigerians to go to the streets and attack any South Africans. Nigerians are not like that. We love foreigners. Nigerians are not like that. That’s not the kind of retaliation I want,” he said.
He further clarified that he does not support shutting down South African businesses operating in Nigeria.
“I don’t want Nigeria to close down MTN or other companies. Don’t Nigerians have shares in those companies? After all, those people are Nigerians too. I don’t want that,” Onyema stated.
“The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa. Do you know what it means? Boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country. If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest. And we determine how they take the money back. That is non-violent action,” he concluded.
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