Air Peace has pushed back against allegations of exploitative airfares made by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), clarifying its position in letters addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment.
The airline asserts that the accusations have harmed its reputation and business operations, particularly on the international stage.
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Air Peace, expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s continued support of Nigerian airlines. However, she lamented that the actions of some government agencies seemed to contradict this support. She clarified that Air Peace was not under investigation but had merely responded to a letter of inquiry from the FCCPC by attending a meeting in Abuja.
Olajide emphasized the difficulties faced by Nigerian airlines, including exorbitant interest rates on loans, high costs of Jet A1 fuel, insurance, maintenance, multiple taxes, and levies. These factors, she argued, contribute to the financial instability and collapse of many airlines in the country.
She stated, “We deeply appreciate the support of President Bola Tinubu for Nigerian airlines, and that is why we want to clarify this matter. The FCCPC sent us a letter of inquiry, and we were invited to Abuja. Our Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, personally attended the meeting to understand their concerns.”
Olajide also questioned the FCCPC’s approach, pointing out that aviation is a highly regulated sector under the purview of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). She suggested that the FCCPC should have first sought clarification from the NCAA before approaching the airline.
“If there are any issues, the right protocol is for the agency to contact the NCAA for clarification. If they are still unsatisfied, they can then reach out to us directly. Unfortunately, the next day, headlines misrepresented the situation as if the Federal Government was investigating Air Peace. Many do not realize the harm such headlines can cause to our image,” she said.
The COO stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of Nigerian airlines, noting that the sector already faces numerous operational and financial challenges. She reiterated Air Peace’s commitment to serving Nigerians and upholding industry regulations, while calling for better coordination among regulatory agencies to avoid damaging the airline’s reputation unjustly.
