The Management of Nigeria’s flagship Carrier, Air Peace Limited, has taken a strong exception to a report carried online by SaharaReporters and a couple of others to the effect that its Chairman, Allen Onyema, was stranded for over 24 hours at Ekiti International Cargo Airport because the Airport lacked navigational equipment.
To get Onyema out of Ekiti, the reports alleged that his Pilot was forced to embark on dangerous manoeuvres.
But the Airline, in a strongly worded statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Dr. Henry Ndiulo, said nothing could be further from the truth; that the report is fake; and at best, irresponsible; meant to strip the Airline of its credibility and safety consciousness which is a priority for them,if it could engage in such dangerous maneuvers.
It attributed the delay at the Ekiti International Cargo Airport to bad weather, and explained that safety, being its watchword, there was no way it would take the risk to fly in such weather. It dismissed the report as a deliberate misrepresentation meant to embarrass the Airline.
Following is the full text of the statement signed by Dr Ndiulo.
“We are aware of Sahara Reporters’ and select online reports that the Chairman/CEO, Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema was “stranded” for over 24 hours at the Ekiti State Agro Allied International Cargo Airport due to the airport’s lack of navigational aids on his recent visit to Ekiti.
“We want to categorically state that this report is false, inaccurate and misleading. This is a deliberate misrepresentation of facts designed to malign Air Peace and its leadership. The claim that “his pilot took a risky manoeuvre to exit Ekiti airport to Lagos” is an outright fabrication that irresponsibly suggests a breach of aviation safety protocols—something Air Peace would never engage in.
THE FACTS:
- “Unfavourable Weather Conditions: The aircraft scheduled to pick up Dr. Onyema and his team on Saturday evening could not land in Ekiti due to poor weather conditions (heavy rain). As a standard safety precaution, the flight was rerouted back to Lagos. This is a routine occurrence in global aviation and not a reflection of any inadequacy on the part of the airport.
2.” No ‘Risky Manoeuvre’: At no point did any Air Peace flight engage in unsafe operations, contrary to the false narrative pushed by Sahara Reporters. Air Peace upholds the highest international aviation safety standards, with safety as our top priority.
- “Deliberate Misinformation: It is disappointing that Sahara Reporters chose to push a sensational and misleading narrative despite having been provided with the accurate sequence of events. This reckless journalism not only misinforms the public but also attempts to tarnish the reputation of Nigeria’s leading airline.
- “4: At Air Peace, safety is not just a priority but a fundamental precondition for all our activities. We remain committed to maintaining safe and timely operations.
■SIGNED
Dr. Ejike Ndiulo
Head, Corporate Communications
Air Peace Limited.
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