Dr Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace, has urged Nigerians to support local businesses and investments to boost the country’s economy.
A statement issued by the airline’s Corporate Communications Lead, Mr Stanley Olisa, on Monday in Lagos, quoted Onyema to have this at the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards.
Onyema also urged Nigerians to embrace peace even in the face of the current economic situation.
He said Nigerians have to ‘support their own’ to thrive instead of engaging in activities that frustrate such businesses.
He said that patronising and supporting local businesses would help to accelerate the economic development of the country.
Onyema called on Nigerians to inculcate the spirit of broad nationalism and ward off sentiments of ethnic and religious nationalism.
He stated that if Nigerians continue to support foreign businesses at the expense of indigenous brands, the economy will continue to suffer a great blow.
He cited how Air Peace recently introduced low fares for its London service, saying it is a nationalistic initiative to ease the burden of air travel for Nigerians on the UK route.
Onyema also noted how the move made the foreign competition on the same route to reduce their fares, emphasising that supporting Nigerian businesses is an act of patriotism and it should become common practice for all.
Onyema, who acknowledged the economic doldrums that Nigeria is currently battling with, implored Nigerians to support the Tinubu government and give him some time to stabilise the economy.
In the same vein, the airline gifted six Nigerians return tickets to London at the award ceremony.
The six Nigerians emerged winners of a raffle draw that was sponsored by the airline.
Onyema, who congratulated the winners, said they would join the airline’s inaugural flight to London on March 30, adding that the airline would also process their visas for them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Air Peace is gearing up for its inaugural London flight on March 30, and has announced incredibly low fares of N1.2 million for a return economy ticket and N4 million for a return business ticket, with a further 15 per cent discount for Nigerians studying in the UK.
Onyema said the 15 per cent discount for the students was borne out of the desire to reduce the financial burden on Nigerians, especially parents who have to pay high fares for their children to come back home during school breaks.
The initiative is also to enable indigent students, especially the ones on scholarship in the UK afford flight tickets back to Nigeria.
NAN
